Awka: The Anambra State Government, in collaboration with Carter Centre, announced the recording and treatment of 156 dog bite cases between 2023 and 2024. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, during a news conference on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Interventions, in commemoration of the 2025 World NTDs Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event highlighted the theme ‘Unite to Act Towards Elimination of NTDs’, marking the annual awareness effort held every January 30. Dr. Obidike revealed that the state has set up three centers for treating dog bite victims to prevent rabies infections, located at Onitsha Federal Medical Centre, Ekwulobia, and Enugu-Ukwu General Hospitals.
Out of the reported cases, 118 victims exhibited open wounds and bleeding, with more than half receiving free prophylactic anti-rabies vaccines. The commissioner noted that 87 males and 69 females were affected, comprising 56 percent and 44 percent of the cases, respectively. The public health challenge posed by unvaccinated stray dogs was underscored, with ongoing collaboration with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture to manage rabies viral infections.
Dr. Obidike identified river blindness, elephantiasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis as prevalent NTDs in the region, caused by various pathogens. Anambra State has successfully eliminated river blindness and elephantiasis through strategic drug administration and vector control initiatives.
He appealed to Carter Centre and academic partners to enhance cooperation with the government to sustain NTD prevention achievements and urged the public to report cases of various diseases, including elephantiasis and dog bites, for timely treatment.
Mrs. Egeonu Attamah-Isiani, Programme Officer at Carter Centre, reiterated their commitment to supporting the state’s NTD elimination efforts. Prof. Nkiru Orji, Coordinator of the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), South-East, called for policy enhancements and increased research funding to support NTD data collection and elimination strategies.