Kaduna State Ministry of Health has conducted a sensitization campaign in Kwarau community, Igabi Local Government Area, to raise awareness on the prevention of Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs.
The campaign, organized as part of activities to mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, focused on educating residents about the causes, prevention, and health risks associated with NTDs, particularly those linked to poor environmental and personal hygiene.
Speaking during the exercise, the State Coordinator for NTDs, Hajiya Zainab Haruna, explained that many NTDs thrive in unhygienic environments and could be prevented through simple but consistent cleanliness practices.
She urged residents to take health information seriously, maintain good hygiene, and seek medical attention promptly at nearby health facilities whenever they experience symptoms of illness.
Hajiya Haruna also called on community members to support government health interventions aimed at protecting vulnerable populations, stressing that community cooperation was critical to reducing spread of diseases.
In his remarks, the Village Head of Kwarau, Malam Umaru Rufa’i, commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Health for bringing the sensitization campaign to the community.
He noted that the exercise had improved residents’ understanding of mosquito-borne diseases and soil-transmitted helminths, as well as practical ways to prevent infections.
Malam Rufa’i encouraged community members to fully utilize available government health programmes, emphasizing that prevention remained the most effective strategy for achieving a healthier society.
Also speaking, Professor Ishaya Kato Auta appealed to residents to keep their environments clean through regular sanitation.
He further urged stakeholders and government authorities to intensify sensitization and awareness programmes, particularly in rural areas, to reduce the rate of deaths associated with Neglected Tropical Diseases.
The sensitization exercise forms part of Kaduna State’s ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of NTDs and improve public health outcomes across communities.
Fatima Aliyu
