Uruan Council Boss Hosts NTDs Elimination Advocacy Team

Local Government

Uruan Council Boss Hosts NTDs Elimination Advocacy Team

The executive chair man, Uruan Local Government, Mr Iniobong Ekpenyong, has played host to members of the NTDs Unit, Ministry of Health, Akwa Ibom State who were on advocacy visit to the council. According to the coordinator, NTDs Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Aniekeme Uwah, the advocacy visit was the 2nd in the series to political office holders and major stakeholders to mobilise resources for the fight against NTDs and most especially promote community ownership of control strategies. Uwah also informed the chairman that Uruan LGA is the only local government eligible for this very important survey in 2021. He further said that the local government is chosen for the forthcoming PreTransmission Assessment Survey (TAS) for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in Uruan LGA following coverage of more than 65 per cent consistently for five years. He explained that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases that occur under tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions and are commonly linked to poverty as they mostly thrive in areas with little or no access to adequate clean water sources, sanitation and healthcare services. Commending the council's chairman for his achievements in less than 60 days in office, Dr. Uwah also used the opportunity to solicit for the chairman's support for the survey and the NTDs elimination programme in general. Responding, the executive chairman, Ekpenyong commended the state coordinator of NTDs, Uwah and assured the team of the council's utmost cooperation and support for a positive result. Ekpenyong said that his administration will always support programmes geared towards improving health care system in Uruan local Government, stressing the administration's readiness to partner with individuals and organizations in the area of health as improve healthcare is one of the seven points agenda of his administration.