FMOH SCREENS SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS

For total elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Ondo State, the Federal Ministry of Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) unit in collaboration with the Ondo State Ministry of Health plans to screen children in Primary one and two in some selected public and private schools in the State in 17 Local Government Areas, Akure South excluded.

The National Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases unit, Dr Fatai Oyediran disclosed this during the planning meeting for the survey tagged "Ondo State LF-TAS 2024" which took place in Akure, the State Capital.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator noted that over the years, the FMOH had been giving preventative chemotherapy to the State through mass administration of drugs as a way to curtail the spread of the disease in the various communities which had been on for close to 15 years.
He said the FMOH is at a point conducting an assessment with the essence to determine whether to stop or continue further administration of medicines in the communities. This he said would give the Government the true picture of the status of Ondo State as far as Lymphatic Filariasis is concerned.

He informed the meeting that the assessment is being carried out in all the 36 States of the federation and the exercise would be conducted for pupils in Primary 1 and 2 irrespective of their age.
Speaking on the process, Oyediran said "blood samples will be collected and whatever samples that will be used in any School would be destroyed immediately in the School."

He therefore sought for collaboration saying "for effective mobilization in the communities and in the school where the assessment will be taking place, we need to bring on board all Stakeholders such as the Education Secretaries in the 18 LGAs, National Association of the Private Proprietor of Schools, the State Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education in mobilizing the various community for a buy-in into the exercise".
Speaking on the planning meeting, the National Coordinator said "we will jointly look at the schools and the communities selected for the survey and the participants will critique the selection to guide us on the School that are still existing in order for us to meet our target"

"In areas we have issues, in terms of location and distance, we will need you to guide us for effective planning so that the implementation will be seamless"

He expressed his conviction that Ondo State would pass the Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) saying the State had passed the Pre assessment in the past.
He appreciated the State Government for its support towards all their programmes in the State and MITOSATH for providing fund for the activity.

The Permanent Secretary of Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola in his remark opined that since the target population for the survey is Children of Primary 1 and 2, all Stakeholders must be brought on board to understand the essence of the programme to the NTDs status in the State.

In his words "all and sundry must be educated and sensitized especially the parents that the process will involve collection of blood samples from their children. The consent of the parents must be sought and our Education Secretaries should help us to engage teachers, the PTA and the communities."

He directed the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) unit of the Ministry to move to the various communities in the State for thorough mobilization of religious and traditional leaders and the parents while emphasizing that the program is for the benefit of the Ondo State Citizens in order to ensure total elimination of NTDs.
He urged parents and guardians to release their children for the survey saying children with the disease would be a burden to them on the long run.

In the good will message of the Director of MITOSATH, Dr Francisca Olamiju, stressed that the planning meeting would ensure the success of the programme through advancing shared education. She urged the participants to remain committed to collaborating for overriding responsibilities to their various communities.

The Chairman of Education Secretaries in the State, Dr Akin Omololu noted that the type of the exercise had been carried out in their communities and the impact in the various communities was overwhelming. He pleaded with the participants to cooperate maximally saying it was in the interest of their various communities.

The representative of National Association of Private Proprietors of Schools (NAPPS), Mrs Akeredolu Mary appreciated the Federal Government and the State Ministry of Health while promising that their association would support the implementation of the plan through giving access to their various schools.

The Ondo State Coordinator for NTDs, Mrs Olanike Oladipupo said the activity is geared towards having an NTDs Free Ondo State saying it is not an ordinary survey.