FG gets free drugs worth $11m for NTDs

Federal government has disclosed that it has received drugs worth $11 million from major institutions around the globe for the treatment of non-tropical diseases, NTDs.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, made this known in Abuja, at an event to disseminate Report on Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthes Epidemiological Mapping in 19 states of the federation.
Awute, who was represented by Director of Public, Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, listed the organizations that assisted with the drugs to include Merck Sharp and Dhome Corporation/Mectizan Donation Proramme, International Trachoma Initiative, GlaxoSmithKline Beecham, Merck KGaA and Johnson & Johnson.
Schistosomiasis, one of the NTDs, also known as bilharziasisis, is a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke (trematode worms) schistosoma species. Infection occurs as a result of parasites released by freshwater snails penetrating the skin of the victims during exposure to contaminated water.
In Africa, 200 million persons are estimated to be infected with the disease, and Nigeria has the highest burden of the disease.