The Kogi State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has commenced a two-day planning meeting to achieve the 2025 treatment goal for schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting school-aged children in several parts of the state.
The meeting, organised by the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Control Programme, focuses on strengthening the state’s health supply chain to ensure that essential medicines reach every community in Kogi, Lokoja, and Ibaji Local Government Areas.
Declaring the meeting open on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Momoh Steven Aziz, emphasised that equitable and timely drug distribution is vital to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
He noted that the session would help identify gaps in logistics, map out effective distribution routes, and develop sustainable strategies for last-mile delivery.
Mr. Aziz urged all stakeholders including local health authorities and community representatives to collaborate toward achieving the state’s 2025 treatment target.
In his presentation, the Acting Coordinator of NTDs, Musa Momohjimoh, announced that the treatment campaign will begin at the ward level, targeting school-aged children (5–15 years) with 600mg doses of medication.
He directed local government coordinators to organize Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings before the school-based treatment exercise to ensure parents are fully informed about the process.
Momohjimoh also underscored the importance of accurate data collection and effective community mobilization, adding that 72 health workers will be trained to carry out the treatment across the state.
