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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Gombe State government has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) through stronger collaboration with the media and development partners.
This resolve was demonstrated at a Media Engagement on NTDs Elimination held in Gombe. The event was organised by the Gombe State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with support from UNICEF and other partners.
Speaking during the event, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Musa Mustafa, disclosed that the state had made remarkable progress in tackling NTDs through mass drug administration, community sensitisation, and health surveillance.
He revealed that most local government areas had achieved elimination status, with only Akko and Kwami still under monitoring. He credited the progress to joint efforts among government, partners, and communities, adding that integrating Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes had helped break the chain of transmission.
The North-East Zonal Coordinator for NTDs, Federal Ministry of Health, Hajiya Hawau Abubakar, praised Gombe for its consistent leadership in the fight against NTDs. She described the state’s success as a model of effective partnership and strong community engagement.
Abubakar stressed that sustained investment in WASH facilities, improved hygiene, and continuous public education were essential to prevent reinfection. She also urged the media to intensify public enlightenment to fast-track Gombe’s attainment of NTD-free status.
A representative of the Amen Foundation, Maryam Abubakar, highlighted progress in addressing three major NTDs, onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), and schistosomiasis (bilharzia). She said media involvement had boosted awareness, increased treatment uptake, and strengthened community participation.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, commended Gombe for its commitment to eliminating NTDs. She noted that the state was nearing the point where transmission could be halted entirely through preventive treatment and active community mobilisation.
Dr. Rafique reaffirmed UNICEF’s continued support for Gombe through integrated health interventions to ensure access to safe water, improved sanitation, and protection from preventable diseases.
The engagement brought together journalists, health officials, and partners to share experiences, deepen collaboration, and renew their commitment to promoting public health awareness across the state.
