Ogun State government has joined the rest of the world to raise awareness on the need for collaborative efforts towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Speaking during a sensitisation walk in Abeokuta, organised to commemorate the day with the theme, "Unite to Act Towards Elimination of NTDs", the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, said it was necessary for relevant stakeholders to scale up awareness on NTDs, describing this step as the crux of this year's celebration.

Dr. Oladehinde, who was represented by the Director, Public Health, Dr. Festus Soyinka, explained that the diseases were tagged, "neglected" because they were not receiving attention from healthcare funders, like several other diseases despite the dangers they pose to the society.

He stated that the state was working on eliminating six of the various NTDs, including schistosomiasis, leprosy, buruli ulcer, Lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths and Onchocerciasis, adding that the World NTD Day, which is celebrated on every January 30, presented an opportunity to educate the public on dangers of these diseases.

The Permanent Secretary noted that NTDs were associated with unclean environment, poverty and disregard for personal hygiene, disclosing that government had continually organised school-based deworming exercises and community outreach to sensitise residents about the diseases and administer drugs to them for free.

"Our general messages to our people remain the same. They should stop open defecation, keep the environment clean, drink clean water and avoid swimming or wading in contaminated water. It is also important that they develop good personal hygiene. For instance, they should always wash their hands with soap and under running water. In addition, they should try as much as possible to protect themselves from mosquito bites", he said.

Dr. Oladehinde called on the media, community leaders, health workers, traditional leaders, teachers and other stakeholders to use every opportunity at their disposal to speak about the diseases and take meaningful actions to help eliminate them in the state.

On his part, representative of Evidence Action, one of the state partners on NTDs elimination, Mr. Emmanuel Dare, commended government for tackling NTDs over the years, assuring that his organisation would continue to support the state technically and financially, in the drive to eliminate the diseases.

While describing the sensitisation walk as a good development, an electrical shop owner in Kuto Market, said government should do everything possible to reach remote areas, where residents lack adequate information about the diseases and vulnerable to them.