Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong has called for collaboration as efforts are made towards the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases ( NTDs).
He made the call in a press briefing organized to commemorate the World Neglected Tropical Diseases, held at the Ministry of Health headquarters, JD Gomwalk secretariat, Jos with the theme, ” Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs towards achieving universal healthcare and SDGs”.
The commissioner said the NTDs which include burudi ulcer, dracunculiasis ( Guinea worm disease) , lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis (bilharzia), soil transmitted helminthiasis ( STH), snakebite envenom action, trachoma, rabies, yaws, among others, affect mostly the vulnerable world’s population.
According to the commissioner, ” The epidemiology of NTDs is complex and often related to environmental conditions, many of which are vector-borne and have animal reservoirs associated with complex life cycles”, adding that all these factors make their public control challenging.
Baamlong stated that Neglected Tropical Diseases remain a significant public health and development challenge which affect populations with limited access to water, sanitation, good hygiene and basic health services, saying their impact extends beyond morbidity, contributing to lost productivity, impaired educational outcomes and persistent poverty.
Baamlong said government alone cannot win the battle of eliminating NTDs, and called on civil societies, traditional institutions, development partners, the private sector, communities and international agencies to unite, act and collaborate in order to eliminate the NTDs.
He said the Plateau State Government, led by Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has made commendable progress in the control of NTDs, particularly schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminth infections, through years of coordinated mass drug administration, community engagement and partner supported interventions.
Baamlong said, “In line with sustainability principles and health system strengthening, I am pleased to inform you that our state is mainstreaming schistosomiasis and STH interventions into the school health program in line with the principles of universal health coverage”.
He said these interventions will work through the integration of preventive chemotherapy into school health programs, strengthening disease surveillance and reporting systems, capacity building of frontline health workers, and alignment with school health and WASH programme.
The commissioner commended development partners, notably the Carter Center, whose technical and financial support, he stated, has been instrumental in building programmatic capacity and achieving high treatment coverage over the years.
He revealed that the Carter Center supported free surgery for 730 hydrocele patients and managed 989 morbidity and disability prevention ( MMDP) across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State from 2002 – 2025.
The commissioner added that Plateau State reported 343 and 311 snakebite cases in 2024 and 2025 respectively, which spurred Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to approve the procurement of anti snake venom for free treatment of snakebite. He also revealed that 844 cases of trachoma were managed from 2020 to date with the support of the health and development support programme ( HANDS), and that about 211 cases of rabies were reported within the last two years.
The commissioner appreciated the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Carter Center – Nigeria, World Health Organization ( WHO) , Health and Development Support Programme ( HANDS) , civil society organizations, Plateau State Primary Healthcare Board ( PSPHCB ), Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board ( PSUBEB) , the 17 local government councils, boards and parastatals, the press and the people of Plateau State for their support of the healthcare system in the state.
He called on the citizens of Plateau State to construct toilets, ensure the provision of potable water, and promote awareness on the importance of sanitation and good hygiene practices through educational programmes, campaigns, and community engagement.
Earlier, in a goodwill message, the General Manager, Plateau State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (PRUWASSA), Engr. Godfrey Nuhu Dashuwar said the agency is one of the agencies that collaborate with the Ministry of Health, especially in the area of public health.
Dashuwar called on all relevant authorities to ensure that their avowed commitment is replicated on the field as it will help in creating a healthy environment, safe society, and a great nation.