NORTH-WEST ZONAL NTD REVIEW MEETING GETS CONCLUDED, NOVEMBER 2018

NORTH-WEST ZONAL NTD REVIEW MEETING GETS CONCLUDED, NOVEMBER 2018

The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Division of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), with support from Development Alternative Incorporation (DAI) Global Health, organized a 3-day review meeting last weekend for the North-Western (NW) zone. Participants at the meeting include the FMoH NTD National Coordinator; represented by the Programme Manager, Onchocerciasis/Lymphatic Filariasis; the Heads of Monitoring & Evaluation, and Supply Chain Management units, NTD NW Acting Zonal Coordinator and other FMoH staff; NTD Programme Coordinators and Data Managers from the NW states – Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara – as well as representatives from DAI, HANDS, HKI, RTI/ENVISION and Sightsavers.

The objectives of the meeting include, to assess and review the activities conducted by the NW states in 2018; and review the extent of implementation of recommendations from the last National and Zonal review meetings among others.

Several recommendations were made. A few of them are: the states should deploy conventional and innovative ways to collate data from communities, harmonize and submit 2018 treatment data by the agreed upon deadline; the states should source for local independent monitors and engage them as this will entrench ownership as well as strengthen local capacity for monitoring of NTDs activities. It was also stated that the states should adhere to national NTDs Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all their NTDs activities; and that NTD programmes should be integrated with other public health interventions such as Malaria, Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) and Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF).

ONDO STATE PREPARES FOR SCHISTOSOMIASIS MASS ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES, NOVEMBER 2018

In preparation for a soon-to-be implemented community Schistosomiasis Mass Administration of Medicines in some parts of Ondo State, there was a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting in Odigbo LGA of the State this week. In attendance were the Zonal Coordinator, Deputy Director OSPHCB, State Coordinator and team, LNTDs, Royal fathers, CAN chairman, Chief Imam, PTA chairman, AEO, Iya Olojas and TBAs, Okada riders, ward representatives and MITOSATH representatives. The meeting was supported by MITOSATH.

OGUN STATE PREPARES FOR 2019 SCHOOL-BASED DEWORMING IMPLEMENTATION

This week, Ogun State NTD team made advancements in their preparations for 2019 School-based Deworming (SBD). Highlight was development of an implementation timeline among other outcomes. In attendance were stakeholders from Ministry of Education, SUBEB, NAPPS, PTA, SNTDs, Zonal office and Evidence Action. Evidence Action supported the meeting.