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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A Christian international development organisation, Christian Blind Mission (CBM) in partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health , Public Health Department-Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs Program
has performed hydrocele surgery on 50 infected persons in Bayelsa State.
Speaking at the Otuasega Cottage Hospital, Ogbia Local Government Area venue of the surgery, Country Director of CBM, Mr Bright Ekweremadu disclosed that aside from eye health, CBM also focuses on Neglected Tropical Diseases ( NTDs).
According to him four states in Nigeria, two in the South- South namely Bayelsa and Rivers and two in the South- West, Ogun and Oyo are currently where CBM is carrying out this exercise.
He noted that the states regarded as orphan states were chosen because they do not have donors that concentrate on such noticeable gap in the health system.
Ekweremadu, who reiterated that CBM works hand in glove with the state governments wherever they are carrying out programmes, stressed that they are in Bayelsa with trained surgeons to perform surgery of hydrocele patients.
He commended the Bayelsa state government and its officials for the support they have shown towards the success of the programme.
“. So what we are doing is that looking for those who have this disease which in local parlance they call elephantiasis, you see people with swelling of the scrotum. We have trained surgeons whom we worked with to carry out operations at much reduced cost for individuals with hydrocele so that they are free again to live a very active and happy life. So in Bayelsa our mandate is to look for 50 persons with hydrocele and have these surgeons operate on them so that they can live quality life. That is basically why we are here and we are working directly with the Bayelsa State government and they have been absolutely supportive. From the governor to the deputy-governor to the cabinet secretary to the Ministry of Health and most importantly the Director of Public Health who is a very enthusiastic citizen of this state. They have been very supportive.
Also speaking the Project Director of CBM, Mr Enan Williams Adamani debunked the myth surrounding hydrocele as a disease and encouraged those suffering from it to seek help.
Adamani who disclosed that hydrocele is endemic in seven local government areas in Bayelsa State said a simple mosquito bite from an infected person transmits the disease.
According to him the disease comes from infection and there are remedies for it especially through surgery.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, South- South, Mr Asaah Akpobari expressed delight with the organisation and success recorded in the programme.
He also commended the coordinator the NTDs programme, Dr Churchill Tabowei for the success recorded so far.
