Sightsavers International in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government’s Ministry of Health, is prepared to distribute River blindness medication to over 2.7 million residents across six local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
During the flag-off ceremony in Makarfi LGA, Tabitha Kane, Senior Programme Officer at Sightsavers Nigeria, announced that a total of 7,678,000 tablets will be made available for children aged five and older.
This initiative, organized by the Ministry of Health with support from Sightsavers, targets the LGAs of Makarfi, Lere, Kaduna South, Kubau, Kagarko, and Kachia.
Kane highlighted that Makarfi was previously not a high-transmission area but is now included in the six regions facing active transmission. She emphasized the importance of community awareness and acceptance of the medicine to combat river blindness effectively.
She also praised the state government and called on traditional leaders in Makarfi to help educate the community about the initiative.
Joseph O. Ike, Director General of the Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA), who represented Health Commissioner Umma K. Ahmed, stated that the medicine is 99.9% safe for individuals aged five and older, regardless of gender.
District Head of Gubuchi, Bello Lawal, urged the community to embrace the medicine to safeguard against blindness and commended the organizers for selecting Makarfi for this important event.
