Stakeholder urges intervention over river blindness in Taraba community

A concerned stakeholder in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, Yunusa Ahmed Danjuma, has called on political leaders and other stakeholders in the area to urgently intervene over what he described as the growing burden of onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, in Murbai community.

Danjuma made the call on Friday in an open letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of the council, Umar Bello Badawaire; the member representing Ardo-Kola Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Happy J. Shonruba; and the member representing Karim-Lamido/Lau/Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency, Abdullahi Muhammed Lauya.

The appeal was also directed to Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau, representing Taraba North Senatorial District, as well as sons, daughters and other stakeholders of Ardo-Kola, urging them to mobilise efforts to address the health concerns confronting residents of Murbai.

According to Danjuma, residents of the community were allegedly suffering from the effects of onchocerciasis, with some losing their sight, livelihoods and dignity to a disease he described as preventable and treatable.

He said the situation required urgent government attention, particularly because the affected communities depend heavily on their environment and rivers for farming and other economic activities.

Danjuma questioned the absence of adequate intervention, calling on elected representatives to visit the area and assess the situation firsthand.

The stakeholder reminded the political representatives that their constituents elected them to provide leadership, representation and protection, stressing that the welfare of the people should remain a priority throughout their tenure.

He also appealed to elders, youth leaders, intellectuals and other indigenes of Ardo-Kola, including those in the diaspora, to speak up and mobilise resources towards addressing the situation.

He argued that the suffering of one community affects the entire constituency.

Among the immediate measures demanded were the deployment of emergency healthcare teams in collaboration with the Taraba State Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Health and relevant international health organisations to provide mass ivermectin treatment and undertake vector-control measures.

He further called for the establishment of medical relief centres to provide eye care, treatment and rehabilitation support for affected residents, as well as an on-the-ground assessment of the extent of the health challenge.

Danjuma urged the local government and elected representatives to consider appropriate emergency and constituency resources to provide relief, stressing that political offices were temporary while the impact of decisions taken by leaders would remain with the people.