February 1, 2022
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
During the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Commemoration staged at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Country Director for Hellen Keller International Sugandh Juneja, has on the 31st January 2022, disclosed that 5.5 million Sierra Leoneans are at high risk of contracting the Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD`s) with the exception of People in the Western Area.
In her statement, Sugandh Juneja acknowledged that Sierra Leone is on track to control the disease of Lymphatic Philiaraisis commonly called elephantiasis.
She added that the people that are treated for Neglected Tropical Diseases have reached over 4.5 million people in Sierra Leone from the age of five years.
Madam Juneja also disclosed that they have reached twelve out of the sixteen districts in terms of administering treatment of NTDs with the exception of only four Districts which are Bombali, Karene, Koinadugu and Falaba.
The Country Director of Hellen Keller International also furthered that more new cases of neglected Tropical Diseases have been diagnosed in the country since 2012 which she considered as a great feat for the country. She added that 5.5 million Sierra Leone have been receiving treatment for river blindness.
She said the 2016 Impact Access of NTD shows that the national programme is on course to achieve control of the diseases.
Madam Juneja encouraged all and sundry to work together in ensuring that effective coordination and intervention in order to address equity in terms of free and affordable access to treatments of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
She further appealed not to lose the sight of the gains made so far adding that, they need to continue supporting the government and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in order to develop and implement sustainability plans for NTDs.
On his part, the U.S Ambassador David Reimer expressed delight to be part of the occasion adding that, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is proud to join the Government of Sierra Leone in celebrating the work towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases under the theme “Advancing health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases”.
Ambassador Reimer noted that the celebration marks yet another milestone in their collective resolve to end a five of neglected diseases. At the global level, he said the United States has recently launched a new strategy in partnership with the World Health Organization.
In order to help people in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health’s NTD Program, the U.S .A Ambassador disclosed that Helen Keller International is currently adapting a five-year Sustainability Plan to make diagnosis and treatment a part of routine health care, making it more accessible to the people who need it most.
The plan, when completed, David Reimer assured that it will make sure women and children who are most affected, have equal access to care and treatment. With a goal of eliminating these neglected tropical diseases, he said campaigns to treat women and children are a cost-effective way of preventing illness and reducing transmission.
He added that the implementation of this global effort in Sierra Leone is evidence of the partnerships they share with the people and government of Sierra Leone to improve health and well-being. Worldwide, he said the United States has worked with governments and pharmaceutical companies to provide 2.8 billion treatments to 1.4 billion people, with donated drugs valued at more than $26 billion.
David Reimer also disclosed that an estimated 5.7 million Sierra Leoneans, particularly women and children, risk illness and lifelong disabilities from these diseases. He assured that together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, they have provided over 125 million treatments and leveraged over $267 million in donated medicines for Sierra Leone.
“In conclusion, as we face the challenge of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States remains committed to global and national efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. To quote Helen Keller, the great author, educator, and advocate, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much more.” May we continue to work together as partners to eliminate neglected tropical diseases in Sierra Leone”, he concluded.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Kenneh, noted that NTDs are a set of Diseases that accumulates which people don’t normally take into consideration.
He encouraged all to end the neglect and beat the NTD`s so that the country will be safe.
He disclosed that they have eliminated a lot of the Neglected Tropical Diseases such as the River Blindness among others.