Abuja, June 24, 2026 — The Federal Capital Territory Administration has urged stronger cooperation among relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective rollout of the 2026 Schistosomiasis Mass Administration of Medicines campaign across the FCT.
At a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Public Health in the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Teresa Nwachukwu, represented by the Head of the Disease Control Division, Dr. Ngozi Ebisike, emphasized that schistosomiasis remains a significant public health concern, particularly among school-aged children and other vulnerable groups.
She noted that the infection continues to negatively impact education, health outcomes, and productivity in affected communities, making sustained intervention efforts necessary. According to her, the upcoming mass drug administration exercise is designed to reduce disease prevalence and safeguard the well-being of children and communities across the territory.
The meeting was convened to strengthen coordination, improve information sharing, and secure broad-based support for implementation across the six Area Councils of the FCT. She also acknowledged the participation of Area Council representatives, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, education stakeholders, and media practitioners, describing their involvement as vital to public health success.
Dr. Ebisike stressed that achieving high treatment coverage depends on active community mobilisation and accurate information dissemination, urging stakeholders to play stronger roles in advocacy and sensitisation. She also called for collective efforts to ensure that every eligible child benefits from the programme, noting that elimination of schistosomiasis requires sustained partnership and commitment.
Speaking at the event, Programme Officer and FCT State Lead of the Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS), Mr. Achai Ijah, said the organisation is supporting the implementation of neglected tropical disease interventions in the territory.
He explained that the 2026 campaign will focus on children aged five to 14 years across schools and communities, with the aim of reducing infection rates and improving overall health outcomes among school-aged children.
Ijah added that engagement with stakeholders was essential to build awareness, encourage acceptance, and secure community-level support for the programme. He noted that religious leaders, traditional rulers, education authorities, disability groups, and local committees were being involved to ensure inclusive participation.
According to him, earlier planning sessions were held to develop strategies for effective delivery, while the current engagement was intended to secure stakeholder buy-in, which he described as crucial to the success of the intervention.
He further stated that trust in community and religious leaders significantly improves acceptance of health initiatives, making their endorsement key to achieving wide coverage during the campaign.
The meeting was attended by representatives of RUWASSA, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, the State Universal Basic Education Board, the Primary Health Care Board, education authorities, and community leaders.