100m Nigerians at risk of Lymphatic Filariasis, malaria,culled from guardian new

100m Nigerians at risk of Lymphatic Filariasis, malaria, says minister
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THE Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has expressed concern that over 100 million people or two out of every three Nigerian are at risk of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and malaria diseases.
He noted that Nigeria ranks third highest in the global burden of LF after India and Indonesia.
Speaking in Abuja at the national conference to stop the transmission of LF and malaria in Nigeria, the minister said the two diseases are “endemic in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”
Chukwu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Fatima Bamidele, at the meeting in collaboration with the Carter Centre, Atlanta,maintained that, “LF prevalence studies indicate that 13 states have high prevalence rate, while 23 states and the FCT have prevalence below 10 per cent.”
He noted that within the last two years, Nigeria has witnessed a massive scale-up in delivery of intervention from the two parasitic diseases transmitted by mosquitoes for population at risk.
He said the number of people covered under the mass drug administration for LF rose from 4.7 million in 2009 to 10 million in 2010 and that the data for 2011 arestill being collected.
The minister listed intervention strategies for malaria and LF to include mass distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets in synergy with the Indoor residual spraying.
Former Head of State and Chairman, Gowon Centre, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, said LF, elimination and malaria control collaborate for improved public health delivery.