Being Part of The Full Report of Sightsavers Panel Session at the 2024 Africa Conference on Development Journalism
Date: Wednesday 4th December 2024.
Venue: Asaa Pyramid Hotel
Background*
Sightsavers, an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) was at the 8th Africa Conference on Development Journalism, organized by Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF).
This report highlights key issues discussed by its team of experienced staff during a Panel Session on the topic: “Development Journalism and NTDs: Challenges and Opportunities” at the conference.
The Session was Moderated by: Dorcas Bitrus
The Panelists were:
Anita Gwom, Programme Director NTDs
Grace Ajege, Technical Manager, SAFE
Tabitha Kane, Senior Program Officer
Otene Owuche, SBC WASH Consultant
*Introduction on Sightsavers*
Sightsavers is an international non-profit organisation (INGO) targeting communities to provide vital charity work in the society aimed at ensuring that no one is blind from avoidable causes and also that people with disabilities are included to participates fully in the society. Sightsavers is dedicated to the WHO goal of eliminating Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in countries where they work, across Asia and Africa, including Nigeria where it has been in exitence for the past 70 years.
Sightsavers has been working with the Federal and states ministries of health to combat five NTDs – Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis), River blindness (Onchocerciasis), Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and trachoma , remain neglected, with little awareness and attention by the global community and national heal systemspp. However, trachoma has made tremendous progress and is looking to elimination by the year 2029.
The diseases include Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis), River blindness (Onchocerciasis), Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) and trachoma which remain neglected, with little awareness and attention by the global community and national heal systems.
Nigeria: Kaduna Endemic For All Five NTDs -Sightsavers
Sightsavers, an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) has released its report on Kaduna, showing the state as an endemic for all the five diseases, although trachoma has been eliminated.
The revelation is contained in the report of its Panel Session at the 2024 Africa Conference on Development Journalism held on 4th December at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, Nigeria.
It says at the point of mapping, onchocerciasis (river blindness) was found to be prevalent in 16 LGAs in Kaduna and that by living in those LGAs, one is at risk of actually river blindness. “Eighteen (18) LGAs in Kaduna are at risk of elephantiasis
“Trachoma is a bacterial infection, and is transmitted through house flies, and it is transmissible from one person to the other. It is the leading cause of infectious blindness and women are more susceptible to trichiasis because they are mostly caregivers who easily contract it from children they care for.
“All LGAs in Kaduna are susceptible to Schistosomiasis, however, it is endemic in 15 LGAs in the state because it can be transmitted through contact with sand, ponds, and while swimming.
“Most times, those within the rural areas are more aware of these treatments more than people who reside in urban communities, despite its house-to-house strategy. This is because the awareness is low.
Successes
“Treatments for trachoma have reduced from 128 LGAs across Nigeria to only 20 LGAs. And that of trichiasis from 242 LGAs to less than 20 LGAs. So far, over 150,000 trichiasis cases have been managed through corrective lid-surgery. These facts buttress Nigeria’s readiness to eliminate trachoma by 2029.
What to do:
“All hands must be on deck to ensure everyone is able to access available free care and treatment. States’ governments through the ministries of health to include indigent populations on the contributory health scheme and make access to trichiasis services free of charge.
“Water sanitation and hygiene promotion is an integral part of NTD elimination that should be prioritised by the government to sustain the gains we have made. Government should provide the need support to the WASH actors and relevant agencies so as to reach unreached areas.
Improve partnership for widespread sensitization in rural and urban communities
“Increase media advocacy and campaigns through programming and storytelling.
Development Journalists have a role towards spotlighting the achievements and gaps in reaching the elimination goal of 2030 , and ensuring all persons including government, philanthropists, corporate organizations, non-profits, religious and community leaders, and community members are all aware and join their voice to end NTDs in Nigeria, End
Globally and working on 2024 data, the Report says about 103 million people are at risk of trachoma, with over a million Nigerians at risk of the disease. “One tablet of 500mg of Azithromycin currently costs about 4,000 naira. and Sightsavers provides it free through donations from Pfizer. ” So far, about 64 million tablets have been donated to the country since 2010. “Millions of Nigerians have also benefited from the free azithromycin treatment administered yearly, with over 34.7 million treatments delivered between 2010 and 2020. The number of treatments has dropped in the past four years, indicating progress in elimination of the disease.
“According to WHO about $5.3 billion is lost globally every year due to visual disability and up to $8billion when impairment from trachoma is included. However, the disease is preventable through treatment.
“Awareness gap leading to lack of acceptance of medical intervention among some individuals, groups, or communities, the Report reveals.
All LGAs in Kaduna are susceptible to Schistosomiasis, however, it is endemic in 15 LGAs in the state because it can be transmitted through contact with sand, ponds, and while swimming.
Most times, those within the rural areas are more aware of these treatments more than people who reside in urban communities, despite its house-to-house strategy. This is because the awareness is low.
Successes
Treatments for trachoma have reduced from 128 LGAs across Nigeria to only 20 LGAs. And that of trichiasis from 242 LGAs to less than 20 LGAs. So far, over 150,000 trichiasis cases have been managed through corrective lid-surgery. These facts buttress Nigeria’s readiness to eliminate trachoma by 2029.
What to do:
All hands must be on deck to ensure everyone is able to access available free care and treatment. States’ governments through the ministries of health to include indigent populations on the contributory health scheme and make access to trichiasis services free of charge.
Water sanitation and hygiene promotion is an integral part of NTD elimination that should be prioritised by the government to sustain the gains we have made. Government should provide the need support to the WASH actors and relevant agencies so as to reach unreached areas.
Improve partnership for widespread sensitization in rural and urban communities
Increase media advocacy and campaigns through programming and storytelling.
Development Journalists have a role towards spotlighting the achievements and gaps in reaching the elimination goal of 2030 , and ensuring all persons including government, philanthropists, corporate organizations, non-profits, religious and community leaders, and community members are all aware and join their voice to end NTDs in Nigeria, End
These diseases are endemic in communities across Nigeria, Kaduna State for instance is endemic for all the five NTDs, although trachoma has been eliminated.
Sightsavers uses a community directed approach where trained community implementers also community directed distributors, (CDDs) move from house-to-house and treat individuals with medicines donated by high-ranking pharmaceuticals like Pfizer, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline. The CDDs use WHO approved dose poles to measure height of individuals before administering the medications, this is because dosage is dependent on an individual’s height.
Other than NTDs, the organization supports eye health systems to provide quality, affordable eye care services, and also support inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. They do this by ensuring that everybody, whether they have a disability or not, can participate equally in society, through:
Inclusive education (including children with disabilities in schools)
empowerment for persons with disabilities,
ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to health services.
support the organizations of persons with disabilities to fight for their rights, etc.
Presentations by Sightsavers Team
Sightsavers work:
Supports government to ensure that people who are vulnerable, and those at risk of these five NTDs have the minimum package of preventive care. The organization emphasizes sensitization so that people can seek and access medical services.
Sightsavers supports Federal ministry of health to work with other NGO partners, States’ Ministries of Health, LGAs community leaders, etc to achieve its NTD elimination goals.
Provides free eyelid surgeries for victims of blinding stage of trachoma, and hydrocele surgeries for men with enlarged scrotum from filariasis. Distributes antibiotics, and other NTD preventive chemotherapy medicines which are distributed annually, depending on the disease prevalence in LGAs within of implementing states; some distributions are done annually, some bi-annually. Provides management for people who have enlarged limbs (lymphedema) from lymphatic filariasis.
Sightsavers works closely with the media to bridge disease and intervention awareness gaps.
Integrates Water Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) into its NTD programming because WASH is a very important component for the elimination of NTDs.
Through its trachoma Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness, and Environmental Sanitation (SAFE) Strategy, it supports improved access to WASH Services.
Highlights:
At the point of mapping, onchocerciasis (river blindness) was found to be prevalent in 16 LGAs in Kaduna. So, by living in those LGAs, you are at risk of actually river blindness. Eighteen (18) LGAs in Kaduna are at risk of elephantiasis
Trachoma is a bacterial infection, and is transmitted through house flies, and it is transmissible from one person to the other. It is the leading cause of infectious blindness and women are more susceptible to trichiasis because they are mostly caregivers who easily contract it from children they care for. I
Based on 2024 data, about 103 million people are at risk of trachoma, globally, with over a million Nigerians at risk of the disease. One tablet of 500mg of Azithromycin currently costs about 4,000 naira. and Sightsavers provides it free through donations from Pfizer. So far, about 64 million tablets have been donated to the country since 2010. Millions of Nigerians have also benefited from the free azithromycin treatment administered yearly, with over 34.7 million treatments delivered between 2010 and 2020. with The number of treatments has dropped in the past four years, indicating progress in elimination of the disease.
According to WHO about $5.3 billion is lost globally every year due to visual disability and up to $8billion when impairment from trachoma is included. However, the disease is preventable through treatment.
Awareness gap leading to lack of acceptance of medical intervention among some individuals, groups, or communities
All LGAs in Kaduna are susceptible to Schistosomiasis, however, it is endemic in 15 LGAs in the state because it can be transmitted through contact with sand, ponds, and while swimming.
Most times, those within the rural areas are more aware of these treatments more than people who reside in urban communities, despite its house-to-house strategy. This is because the awareness is low.
Successes
Treatments for trachoma have reduced from 128 LGAs across Nigeria to only 20 LGAs. And that of trichiasis from 242 LGAs to less than 20 LGAs. So far, over 150,000 trichiasis cases have been managed through corrective lid-surgery. These facts buttress Nigeria’s readiness to eliminate trachoma by 2029.
What to do:
All hands must be on deck to ensure everyone is able to access available free care and treatment. States’ governments through the ministries of health to include indigent populations on the contributory health scheme and make access to trichiasis services free of charge.
Water sanitation and hygiene promotion is an integral part of NTD elimination that should be prioritised by the government to sustain the gains we have made. Government should provide the need support to the WASH actors and relevant agencies so as to reach unreached areas.
Improve partnership for widespread sensitization in rural and urban communities
Increase media advocacy and campaigns through programming and storytelling.
Development Journalists have a role towards spotlighting the achievements and gaps in reaching the elimination goal of 2030 , and ensuring all persons including government, philanthropists, corporate organizations, non-profits, religious and community leaders, and community members are all aware and join their voice to end NTDs in Nigeria.
