Golungo-Alto – At least 28, 087 citizens have been dewormed in Golungo-Alto municipality, Cuanza-Norte province as part of the first phase of the campaign to combat neglected tropical diseases.
The campaign, which running from March 4 to 11 all over the country, aims to prevent Schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis, with the administration of praziquantel, albendazole and ivermectin tablets, in an initiative of the Health Ministry, in partnership with the non-governmental organization MENTOL.
It includes the administration of deworming tablets for children and adults in schools, churches and the main population centres.
Celso Tandala, municipal health director, said the second phase of the campaign is currently underway in the province.
"In this phase, praziquantel and ivermectin tablets are being distributed to prevent schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness," Tandala said.
The national coordinator of the Program Against Neglected Tropical Diseases, Maria de Almeida, on her turn said the work carried out in Cuanza Norte province is positive, having praised the commitment of the administrations in supporting the teams and technicians involved in the process.
The National Campaign against Neglected Tropical Diseases plans to reach more than one million citizens over the age of one in the country's 164 municipalities.
In Cuanza-Norte, at least 420,833 citizens are expected to be immunized.
Golungo-Alto municipality is located 57 kilometres away from Ndalatando, the capital of Cuanza-Norte. It has three communes, namely Cambondo, Cerca and Kiluanje, and an estimated population of over 70,000 inhabitants. LJ/DS/OHA/AMP
