Cross River has targeted 400,000 children, between five and 14 years old, in its 2026 mass treatment campaign for neglected tropical diseases across selected local councils.

Tochi Ohaji, senior manager at Evidence Action, made the remark while speaking with reporters in Calabar.

Mr Ohaji said the initiative aligned with Nigeria’s plan to eliminate NTDs by 2030, adding that their intervention focused on treating soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis among the school-aged children.

He said an impact assessment conducted with the Federal Ministry of Health showed significant progress in controlling both diseases in Cross River.

Speaking further, Mr Ohaji stated that the exercise would run for five days, beginning on Wednesday, with trained teams visiting schools to administer treatment to eligible children.

He urged parents, school authorities and community leaders to support the campaign to ensure all eligible children receive the medicines.

“The programme targets 14 of the state’s 18 local government areas where disease prevalence qualifies communities for mass drug administration,” he said.

Mr Ohaji added that seven local government areas would participate in the current phase, while the remaining areas would be covered in subsequent rounds.

Also speaking, Jacob Solomon, programme officer for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis elimination, highlighted concerns about declining donor funding.

Mr Solomon said global partners were beginning to experience donor fatigue, necessitating that governments increase domestic funding for neglected tropical disease programmes.

He urged state governments to establish dedicated budget lines for disease elimination activities and to ensure funds are released when appropriated. He said stronger domestic funding would help sustain deworming programmes and protect gains already achieved across endemic states.

Veronica Mark, Cross River coordinator for NTDs, said seven council areas would benefit from the initial exercise in 2026, including Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, and Odukpani.

Ms Mark said others include Biase, Akamkpa, Yakurr and Etung, adding that the state government has plans to reach children, even in hard-to-reach areas, to ensure they are dewormed.

(NAN)