The Cross River State Government, in collaboration with Helen Keller International, has initiated plans to conduct free hydrocelectomy surgeries for 100 people living with hydrocele, a major manifestation of lymphatic filariasis.
The exercise, which is the third phase of the intervention, is aimed at men and boys aged 15 years and older; 50 beneficiaries are expected to undergo surgery at Akamkpa General Hospital and another 50 at Obubra General Hospital.
The State Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Control Programme, Godwin Omeji, disclosed this at a day-long morbidity management and disability prevention planning meeting for the exercise in Cross River.
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Omeji explained that hydrocele occurs when lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is left untreated, causing abnormal swelling of the scrotum.
He said the state had completed its preventive chemotherapy interventions and was now focusing on managing complications arising from untreated cases as part of efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.
According to him, the surgery will be carried out from August 19 to 24 at the two designated general hospitals, and health workers are already mobilizing affected people in all communities to access free treatment.
He said the intervention would be continuous, adding that beneficiaries who could not be accommodated during the current phase would be documented for subsequent surgeries.
Omeji identified insufficient funds to mobilize beneficiaries to treatment centers as one of the main challenges encountered during the first and second phases of the programme.
He noted that some affected people were also reluctant to report the case due to stigma, while others could not afford transportation to designated hospitals.
Therefore, it called for the activation of selected primary health care centers to offer hydrocele surgery, instead of limiting the service to secondary and tertiary health centers.
He also called on the state government to increase budget support to enable the NTD program to carry out regular community activities, identify more cases and monitor patients after surgery.
Helen Keller International State Coordinator in Cross River, Unyime Ekpoudia, said the organization was supporting the state in its efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, particularly lymphatic filariasis.
Ekpoudia said the planning meeting was aimed at developing a clear implementation plan for the next phase of hydrocele surgeries, adding that the two selected hospitals would also care for patients referred from neighboring local government areas.
He expressed optimism that the intervention would restore dignity, confidence and livelihoods to affected people who had suffered stigma and physical discomfort.
Ekpoudia explained that beneficiaries would remain under observation after surgery and return for follow-up 10 to 14 days after discharge, two weeks later and again after a month to ensure adequate healing, removal of sutures and early detection of complications.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonah Bassey Offor, said hydrocele had significant physical, psychological, social and economic consequences for the affected people.
Offor, who described the free surgeries as more than a medical intervention, said the program would help restore dignity, confidence and productive lives to beneficiaries.
He commended Helen Keller International and other development partners for supporting the state in the fight against neglected tropical diseases, while urging stakeholders to ensure proper identification and referral of eligible patients, adequate surgical equipment, essential medical products, infection prevention, documentation, post-operative care and community mobilization.
Also speaking was the NTD Coordinator for Akamkpa Local Government Area, Jude Ikon, who said the planning exercise had exposed health workers to hidden cases of hydrocele in the communities.
He said health workers had begun mobilizing through community leaders and awareness-raising activities to encourage people living with the condition to come forward for free surgery.
Ikon expressed optimism that the intervention would help protect affected residents from the debilitating effects of hydrocele and improve their quality of life.
The program is part of broader efforts to achieve the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030..
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