As part of the preparations to begin the 2025 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) program in Edo State, the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) in collaboration with the Carter Center (TCC), held a Strategic Planning Meeting for Stakeholders and another State-Level Training for Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Coordinators across the 18 LGAs alongside the State Integrated Health Team (SIHT).
The program took place from April 28th to May 1st, 2025, with the strategic planning meeting held over two days on April 28th and 29th while the training took place from 30th April to May 1st, 2025 at the same venue. The aim of the strategic planning meeting was to develop effective strategies and plans for tackling NTDs in the state in 2025.
Participants for the Strategic Planning Meeting included representatives from key line ministries such as the Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Small Town & Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (STRUWASSA) Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ministry of Communication and Orientation.
Also present were officials from EDSPHCDA including the Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, State Immunization Officer, Public Relations Officer, Disease Surveillance Officers at the state and LGA levels, Monitoring and Evaluation Officers at the State and LGA levels, Malaria Desk Officer, Health Educator, and NTD Coordinators at the State and LGA levels, 16 State Integrated Health Team (SIHT) and representatives of the Carter Center, Academia, as well as NPHCDA also attended the meeting.
Kicking off the meeting, the NTD State Technical Advisory Committee Chairman, Professor Mrs. Vivian Omuemu welcomed the participants and encouraged them to remain focused during the planning sessions. She emphasized the importance of creating an effective NTD program that will help reduce the burden of these diseases in Edo State.
The Director, Carter Center Edo/Delta Dr Emmanuel Emukah also addressed the participants, outlining plans of the Carter Centre to collaborate with the State and other Partners to identify and provide surgical treatment for people suffering from hydrocele and lymphoedema in 2025.
Adding to the discourse, the Federal Ministry of Health’s South-South NTD Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Christopher Odueze reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing the prevalence of NTDs. He stressed the importance of community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, and integrated health services as part of efforts in achieving the national and global goal of eliminating NTD diseases.
Reflecting on the past year, Mrs. Happy Poko, the Edo State NTD Coordinator, gave a presentation on the achievements and challenges of the NTD program in 2024. She spoke on key activities that were carried out in 2024 including two rounds of Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM), celebration of World NTD Day with media campaigns on radio, TV, social media, and print media, Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS), monitoring across LGAs, and slash-and-clear operations in five border LGAs to reduce the breeding of black flies. She noted that training and data reporting on the DHIS platform were also carried out.
However, despite these successes, Mrs Poko pointed out some challenges faced in 2024 including insecurity in some areas and low motivation among Community Directed Distributors (CDDs) who carry out the drug distribution. She recommended more Government support, involvement of local vigilantes during medicine distribution, and stronger community participation to ensure program sustainability.
To recognize outstanding contributions, the program included an awards segment where individuals and groups were honored for their commitment and contributions to the NTD program in 2024. Awardees included:
Best Performing Community Leader – HRH Oba Sule Idaiye (Somorika Kingdom, Akoko Edo LGA)
Best Community Directed Distributor (CDD) – Mr. Foroti Emmanuel Monday (Akoko Edo LGA)
Best Frontline Health Worker – Mrs. Stella Inaboya (Etsako West LGA)
Best NTD Coordinator – Mr. Ojeaga Augustine (Ovia South West LGA)
Awardees received certificates and cash prizes from the Carter Centre which were presented to the awardees by the representative of line Ministries and EDSPHCDA Directors present in recognition of their efforts. Following the awards, stakeholders engaged in group work to draft the 2025 work plans for NTD activities at both the state and LGA levels.
To build capacity for implementation, a two-day training was conducted from April 30th to May 1st for LGA NTD Coordinators across the 18 LGAs, along with 16 SIHT members. The training focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to train frontline health workers and to lead effective community awareness and engagement campaigns.
Looking ahead, the training also prepared participants for the upcoming first round of Mass Administration of Medicines across 10 LGAs that conduct biannual treatment in Edo State scheduled for May 2025.
During this campaign, children aged 5 to 14 years will receive Mebendazole tablets, while 5 years and above will also be administered Ivermectin to control and treat onchocerciasis (river blindness) and praziquantel tablet will be administered to children aged 5 to 14 years across 15 moderate endemic wards to control and treat Schistosomiasis.
