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Dr. Cletus Shurkuk, Plateau Commissioner for Health, says Plateau and Nasarawa are the only states to have eradicated Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) and Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) in Nigeria.
Shurkuk stated this on Thursday in Jos when he briefed newsmen to commemorate the 2025 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day with the theme “Unite, Act, Eliminate, Neglected Tropical Diseases.”
He said that in 2017, river blindness transmission in Plateau was interrupted and treatment stopped in 2018, while elephantiasis transmission was interrupted in 2012 and treatment stopped in 2013.
The official further said that the ministry, with support from the Carter Centre in 2024, conducted free surgeries for 20 hydrocele patients.
According to him, 131,155 schoolchildren between the ages of 4 and 15 years and 119,942 adults were treated for schistosomiasis in 2024.
Shurkuk said that to commemorate the 2025 World NTDs Day, the state government would be conducting a free medical outreach in Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas from January 31 to February 3 for 6,000 school children.
The commissioner urged Plateau people to imbibe good environmental practices, adopt positive behavioural change, and practice healthy lifestyles.
He commended the various partners for their invaluable contributions to the state.
