The Kogi State Ministry of Health’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Programme, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has inaugurated the 2025 Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) for Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) prevention in the state.
The mass medicine distribution, aimed at preventing river blindness, will cover all 3,200 communities in the state and target 4.5 million people aged five years and above.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, who declared the two-day MAM review meeting open on Monday in Lokoja, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating river blindness in the state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Steven Momoh, the commissioner said the meeting was convened to review progress, identify gaps, and develop strategies for the upcoming Mectizan distribution cycle in March.
He noted that the state had made significant progress in controlling the disease through mass drug administration campaigns, thanks to the dedication of health workers and stakeholders.
He acknowledged the support of development partners, including Sightsavers, and urged participants to actively engage in discussions to ensure no community is left behind.
“The Kogi Government, led by Governor Ahmed Ododo, is committed to improving residents’ health and well-being.
“The Ministry of Health will provide leadership, coordination, and support for neglected tropical diseases elimination programmes,” he said.
The state NTD Coordinator, Mr. Musa Momohjimoh, explained that Kogi remains endemic for Onchocerciasis due to its water-rich environment, with the River Niger and River Benue flowing through several local government areas.
“The treatment of river blindness has been ongoing in Kogi since 1997, with over 27 rounds of treatment administered.
“While we have achieved great success, there are still challenges, and the disease remains endemic in some areas,” Momohjimoh said.
He urged residents to participate fully in the mass medicine distribution scheduled for March.
Sightsavers Programme Officer, Phoebe Hindan, emphasized the importance of strategic implementation to ensure no one misses out on the intervention.
“The exercise aims to close gaps observed in previous implementations and ensure the elimination of the disease, not just continued treatment.
“The distribution will last for 10 days, and we urge participants to ensure their communities are involved in the planning and implementation process,” she said.
Earlier, Betsy Ibenu, NTD Data Manager at Sightsavers, said the meeting was designed to review implementation strategies, develop a work plan for achieving geographical and therapeutic coverage, and discuss micro-planning and deep-dive investigations.
Stakeholders at the meeting included heads of health departments, NTD team members, the Kogi branch of the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), NAFDAC, CAN, JNI, among others.
Participants pledged their commitment to achieving the objectives of the exercise.
