Minister of State for Health, Dr.Ali Mohammad Pate has said that Nigeria has from December 2008 till date maintained a zero Guinea worm disease case status for fifty two consecutive months.
The Minister stated this in Abuja Thursday at a Press Briefing to mark the 2013 National Guinea Worm Disease Eradication Day.
He said that the occasion is coming ahead of the proposed visit by the International Certification Team (ICT) for Guinea Worm disease eradication which will be visiting Nigeria in June 24th to July 14th, 2013 to assess Nigeria for consideration for certification.
He expressed optimism that the visit of the international Certification Team will yield positive results pointing out that Nigeria will qualify to be certified free of Guinea worm disease this year.
He stressed that the last case of Guinea Worm Disease(GWD) in Nigeria was reported in November 2008 and since then Government has strive to maintain precertification activities nationwide to include surveillance, provision of adequate water sources and maintenance of a National Certification Committee on Guinea worm Disease Eradication.
To add impetus to the Guinea worm Disease surveillance, documentation and reporting, he said that Nigeria introduced and still maintains the N25,000 cash reward and a toll-free number; 0-800-100-1000 open 24/7 for prompt reporting of suspected Guinea worm Disease cases and rumours.
Dr. Pate said that the Federal Ministry of Health has continued to work in collaboration with partners and stakeholders to disseminate GWD messages including the existence of a cash reward and toll-free number.
He added that one of such partnerships is with the Federal Ministry of Education which is expected to work with the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme(NIGEP) to ensure that all students in primary, secondary and even tertiary institutions are knowledgeable about Guinea worm disease messages, cash reward and toll-free number.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Health launched the national multi-year plan for neglected tropical disease on 19th February, 2013 adding that Mr.President,Dr.Goodluck Jonathan hosted the Presidential Summit on Water Supply and discussed the importance of water and sanitation.
He noted that these two sectors can demonstrate the synergy that can stretch Nigeria's effort to improve health outcomes and gains in the nation socio-economic development which has been exhibited in the elimination of Guinea worm disease in Nigeria.
Via: Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) Nigeria