The Ogun Government has organised a quiz competition for selected
students from basic and secondary schools across the state to commemorate the 2023 Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (NTDs).
students from basic and secondary schools across the state to commemorate the 2023 Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (NTDs).
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, in her keynote address at the event held at Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba,
said the competition is a reflection of government’s intention to invest in NTDs by increasing awareness about the diseases.
said the competition is a reflection of government’s intention to invest in NTDs by increasing awareness about the diseases.
She said NTDs are caused by parasites and bacteria, which are mainly associated with poverty and common in environments
with poor hygiene, inadequate or lack of potable water supplies and poor living conditions.
with poor hygiene, inadequate or lack of potable water supplies and poor living conditions.
She listed disabilities and stigmatisation as some of the consequences of the diseases.
The commissioner described the theme of the 2023 NTDs — “Act Now. Act Together. Invest in NTDs”, as apt and of utmost importance for stakeholders.
She said that investing in sensitisation of children across the state would create a ripple effect in the society, ranging from better education
to improved health and employment outcomes for residents.
to improved health and employment outcomes for residents.
She added that “NTDs will make our health system more resilient and our world a more equitable and safer place.
“For us to act together, I want to implore you all (the learners) to be good ambassadors of NTDs by educating your peers on the menace
and morbidity associated with neglected tropical diseases, communicating behavioural changes.
and morbidity associated with neglected tropical diseases, communicating behavioural changes.
“The truth is that NTDs are preventable and curable and will not be neglected by this administration with support from our partners.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have consistently provided free treatment for millions of residents in areas with
high prevalence of NTDs in our state.
high prevalence of NTDs in our state.
“We regularly sensitise our people on hygiene promotion activities through our community mobilisers.”
Coker appreciated partners for their commitment toward the fight against NTDs.
She urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, the media, philanthropists, corporate organisations, community leaders,
and other relevant stakeholders to join government in drawing a roadmap toward achieving health equity.
and other relevant stakeholders to join government in drawing a roadmap toward achieving health equity.
The Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr Olukayode Soyinka, said the quiz competition which was the second edition,
was intended to scale up sensitisation through the participants whom he described as “vanguards of change”.
was intended to scale up sensitisation through the participants whom he described as “vanguards of change”.
In his goodwill message, Dr Bisi Orebiyi, the Water and Sanitation Officer, UNICEF Akure Field Office, described the competition as a great initiative.
He said it would improve the knowledge of the students and encourage them to cascade what they learned to their peers and other members of the community.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Front Foundation College, Shokoto Town, Olosun, Abeokuta, May Fair School, Ibafo, and
Migration Model College, Ijebu-Ode came first, second, and third respectively in the Secondary School Category of the Quiz Competition.
Migration Model College, Ijebu-Ode came first, second, and third respectively in the Secondary School Category of the Quiz Competition.
The Migration Montessori School, Ijebu-Ode, Prince and Princess Imperial School, Bode Olude, Abeokuta, and
Greenbridge Integrated School, Sokori, Abeokuta came first, second, and third respectively in the Primary School category. (NAN)
