By Stanley Nwako
The Carter Center has commended the Anambra State Government for its support towards the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases following an assessment of lymphatic filariasis in 20 endemic local government areas of the state.
The commendation was made during a stakeholders’ feedback meeting held on Wednesday, October 29, 2026, at the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Awka. The meeting was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Obiageli Uchebo, who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike. The federal assessment team was led by the National Programme Officer, Dr Issa Ahmadu.
The assessment was conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with The Carter Center, the Anambra State Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB).
It evaluated the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis in 20 endemic local government areas where mass drug administration with Mectizan and Albendazole has been implemented.
In her welcome address, Dr Uchebo thanked the federal team, The Carter Center and the education sector for their collaboration and contributions to the exercise. She described The Carter Center as a results-oriented partner and praised health workers and programme implementers for their dedication across communities, local government areas and schools.
The Carter Center Programme Officer in Anambra State, Mrs Atama Isianiegonu, commended the Ministry of Health for its commitment to implementing neglected tropical disease programmes. She said the assessment team spent nearly six weeks evaluating the disease situation in endemic areas, with fieldwork completed two days before the feedback meeting, followed by data verification and analysis.
Mrs Isianiegonu described the outcome of the exercise as encouraging and appreciated the state government for providing an enabling environment for the assessment. She also acknowledged the important role of the education sector in facilitating the school-based exercise.
Presenting the findings, Dr Ahmadu highlighted key observations, their implications, challenges encountered and recommended next steps. The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the preliminary findings and discuss the interventions required to sustain progress towards eliminating lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
The State Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Control and Elimination Programme, Dr Obikwelu Emmanuel, disclosed that the assessment covered 20 local government areas, with more than 300 schools sampled across 18 evaluation units. He explained that the state had sustained mass drug administration using Mectizan and Albendazole to combat lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, adding that concerted efforts had interrupted transmission of both diseases.
Dr Obikwelu further disclosed that six positive cases were identified during the assessment and would receive appropriate follow-up interventions in line with World Health Organisation and Federal Ministry of Health guidelines. He said the measures were necessary to prevent a resurgence of the diseases and sustain the progress already recorded.
