By Mojisola Oladele

The UNICEF Country Representative for Nigeria, Ms Wafaa Saeed, has reiterated the critical need for sustainable hygiene practices to prevent disease outbreaks in Osun State communities.

Ms. Saeed made the declaration during a town hall meeting with U.S. National Committee (U.S. NATCOM) donors, as part of a field visit to Olode and Faji communities in Ife South and Odo Otin Local Government Areas.

The visit aimed to observe the impact of Mectizan and Albendazole tablets, provided free by UNICEF, to treat and prevent Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) like Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis.

Ms. Saeed emphasized that maintaining regular hand washing and using improved toilet facilities is imperative for public health.

“I have been encouraged because we have been in this community in Faji, a community that is one of the first to have managed to interrupt the transmission of Neglected Tropical Diseases like Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis,” Ms Saeed told journalists.

She praised the collaboration between local health workers and communities and pledged UNICEF’s continued support to improve the well-being of women, children, and local economies.

Echoing her sentiments, the President and CEO of UNICEF USA, Mr. Michael Nyenhuis, stated that the team was spurred by the progress in Osun State and would seek more donor support.

“It has been so exciting to be in these communities. From the United States, we help support this work by engaging the donors who support the supply of medicines and also funding to make some of this work possible. It was great to actually see the success the communities have made in combating some of the tropical diseases,” Mr. Nyenhuis explained.

The Afaji of Faji, Oba Moshood Olawale, commended the donors for interventions that included borehole construction and the provision of medicine.

In separate interviews, the General Manager of Osun State RUWESA, Mrs. Ibidun Odelola, and the Founder of AMEN Healthcare Foundation, Chief Rita Oguntoyinbo, lauded Oba Olawale for his leadership in making Faji an open-defecation-free community.

Community members also gave positive testimonies. Mrs. Dayo Oyewole and Mrs. Hafisat Faniran attested that the Mectizan and Albendazole medicines had “helped tremendously” in curing Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis.

The event concluded with the Afaji of Faji presenting gifts to the UNICEF representatives and a cultural display by students from the Faji community.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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