Fresh hope has come to 100 persons living with hydrocele in Cross River State as the state government, in partnership with Helen Keller International, prepares to provide them with free hydrocelectomy surgeries as part of efforts to tackle complications arising from lymphatic filariasis.
The intervention, which marks the third phase of the hydrocele surgery programme, targets men and boys aged 15 years and above, with 50 beneficiaries scheduled for treatment at General Hospital Akamkpa and another 50 at General Hospital Obubra from August 19 to 24, 2026.
Representing the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, at a one-day morbidity management and disability prevention planning meeting for the exercise, on Monday in Calabar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonah Bassey Offor, said hydrocele had significant physical, psychological, social and economic consequences for affected persons.
Offor described the free surgeries as more than a medical intervention, noting that the programme would help beneficiaries regain their dignity, confidence and capacity to lead productive lives. He commended Helen Keller International and other development partners for supporting the state’s fight against neglected tropical diseases.
He urged stakeholders to ensure proper identification and referral of eligible patients, adequate surgical teams, essential medical commodities, infection prevention measures, proper documentation, postoperative care and effective community mobilisation throughout the exercise.
The State Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Control Programme, Godwin Omeji, explained that hydrocele occurs when lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, remains untreated, resulting in abnormal swelling of the scrotum.
Omeji said the state had completed its preventive chemotherapy interventions and was now concentrating on managing complications arising from untreated cases. He added that health workers had commenced community mobilisation to identify affected persons and encourage them to access the free treatment.
According to him, the intervention would be sustained, with eligible persons who could not be accommodated during the current phase documented for subsequent surgical sessions.
Omeji identified inadequate funding for beneficiary mobilisation as a major challenge during the first and second phases, while stigma had discouraged some affected persons from seeking treatment and transportation costs prevented others from reaching designated hospitals.
He therefore advocated the activation of selected primary healthcare centres to provide hydrocele surgery instead of concentrating the service at secondary and tertiary facilities. He also appealed for increased budgetary support to enable the NTD programme conduct regular community outreaches, identify more cases and monitor beneficiaries after surgery.
The Cross River State Coordinator of Helen Keller International, Unyime Ekpoudia, said the organisation was supporting the state’s efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases, particularly lymphatic filariasis. She explained that the planning meeting was aimed at developing a clear implementation plan for the next phase of hydrocele surgeries.
Ekpoudia said the two selected hospitals would also serve patients referred from neighbouring local government areas, expressing optimism that the intervention would restore the dignity, confidence and livelihoods of affected persons who had endured physical discomfort and social stigma.
She said beneficiaries would remain under observation after surgery and undergo follow-up at 10 to 14 days after discharge, two weeks thereafter and again after one month to assess healing, remove sutures and facilitate early detection of complications.
The NTD Focal Person for Akamkpa Local Government Area, Jude Ikon, said the planning exercise had exposed health workers to previously hidden cases of hydrocele in communities. He said mobilisation had commenced through community leaders and sensitisation activities to encourage affected persons to come forward for the free surgery.
Ikon expressed optimism that the intervention would protect affected residents from the debilitating effects of hydrocele and improve their quality of life.
The intervention is part of the partnership between the Cross River State Government and development partners to strengthen the prevention, treatment and control of neglected tropical diseases, in line with the World Health Organisation’s target of eliminating the diseases by 2030.
By Kingsley Agim
