Writing By Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Sightsavers International, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, has launched a specialised training programme for surgeons in Zaria to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against lymphatic filariasis, one of the most disabling neglected tropical diseases.
Senior Programme Officer for Kaduna State, Tabitha Kane, told newsmen that the training aims to equip doctors with World Health Organization approved skills to manage hydrocele, a painful swelling of the scrotum.
According to her, twelve surgeons from Kaduna and Kogi States are participating in the exercise, while more than one hundred will be trained nationwide to standardise hydrocele surgery in line with global best practices.
She explained that although mass drug administration with albendazole and ivermectin remains the main preventive strategy, patients already suffering complications require surgery or other forms of clinical care.
“Nigeria carries one of the heaviest burdens of NTDs globally, with over 122 million people affected and to tackle this, Sightsavers is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health under the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, a six-year, $500 million programme (2024–2030) targeting the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and river blindness across Africa”,she narrated
The programme officer said the initiative is supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with a mandate to deliver over 70 million treatments, train more than 11,000 health workers and 100,000 community drug distributors, as well as perform thousands of hydrocele surgeries.
According to her, the ultimate goal is to free Africa from the pain and disability of neglected tropical diseases by 2030.
A professor of urology at the University of Jos and consultant with Sightsavers Professor Nuhu Dakum , said the five day programme will combine theory, practice on mannequins, and live patient surgeries, with at least forty eight hydrocele operations scheduled.
He emphasised that the training will ensure better surgical outcomes for patients and help doctors replicate the techniques in their hospitals.
Earlier,Kaduna State Desk Officer for Neglected Tropical Disease Control from the ministry of health, Malam Sani Abdullahi, disclosed that lymphatic filariasis is endemic in 18 out of the 23 local government areas of the state.
Malam Sani Abdullahi noted that while preventive drugs are administered in the three LGAs where transmission is still active, hydrocele patients have been treated across both endemic and non endemic areas.
He added that since 2019, Kaduna State and Sightsavers have successfully conducted nearly 2,000 hydrocele surgeries.
Mr. Abdullahi stressed that the refresher course for surgeons represents a major boost for the state’s health system, while reaffirming government’s commitment to eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030.
One of the participants, who is the Medical Director of General Hospital Ikara Dr. Abdurrahman Suleiman, noted that rural communities record many cases of hydrocele, and the training will help them sharpen their skills in managing the condition, thereby improving patient care and reducing the burden of lymphatic filariasis across the state.
TEDDY DANIEL
