The Kano State Government has formally taken over the Trachoma Trichiasis project with a pledge to work toward total eradication of Trachoma Trichiasis (TT) disease in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, made the government’s position known during the official event on Tuesday.
The commissioner said that the takeover followed the closeout of the project, supported by the Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS) and the handover of the transition plan to the Kano state government.
Yusuf, who commended the organisations for supporting the implementation of the project, also thanked Gov. Abba Yusuf for his commitment.
He highlighted the successes achieved through the project including the training of healthcare workers, management of Trachoma TT cases and conduct mass drug administration campaigns.
He explained that the project achieved significant milestones, including the training of 21 ophthalmic nurses and 40 Primary Health Care workers on TT surgery.
Others are the management of a backlog of 35,966 cases of TT, the conduct of targeted Mass Drug Administration campaigns in 10 local government areas, training of 12,100 Community Directed Distributors and Case Finders in 40 council areas.
Other achievements include active house-to-house case search across the state, rehabilitation of 122 boreholes and construction of three new boreholes
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to control and eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), praising the support of the Federal Ministry of Health, HANDS and SIGHTSAVERS International.
The Country Director of Sighsavers Nigeria, Dr Joy Shuiabu, said the international NGO would continue to support the Kano State Government in ensuring that TT is eliminated from the state and the country at large.
She said that the Kano state has taken the lead in the fight against the disease and urged other states across the federation to do the same.
The Director, Programme, Health and Development Support programme, Dr Innocent Emereuwa lauded Kano State Government for attaining greater heights in the fight against TT.
Trachoma is an eye condition caused by a bacterium that can affect eyesight if untreated.
The disease spreads through personal contact, with infected discharge from eyes and noses touching other people’s hands or infected clothing or bedding.
Flies can also spread the infectious discharge from one person to another, with symptoms such as tightened eyelids, extreme eye pain, and light intolerance, among others.
The symptoms can begin from five to 12 days after being exposed to active infection.
NAN
