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By Rasheedat Oladotun-Iliyas
The Kwara State Government has commenced a statewide deworming exercise targeting school-age children across twelve Local Government Areas.
This is part of efforts by the State Government in collaboration with development partners, to improve child health and reduce the burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, in the State.
In an address at the flag off ceremony at Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El Imam, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Taoheed Ayodeji, assured parents and guardians that the deworming drugs are safe, effective and approved for use by relevant health sector.
Dr El Imam explained that the initiative is aimed at preventing worm-related infections that can hinder children’s growth, nutrition and academic performance, adding that the State had put in place measures to ensure proper administration of the medication in schools within the affected Local Government Areas.
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode urged parents and guardians to support the programme by allowing their children to participate, while advising teachers to cooperate with health personnel for smooth implementation.
The Programme Officer, Sightsavers International, Mr Olalekan Ajayi explained that the organization had been in partnership with the Kwara State Government for over ten years and maintained that the mass deworming exercise is part of the organization’s efforts to promote a healthy society.
The Kwara State Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, Mrs Christianah Bamigboye who said that the disease thrive in dirty places emphasized the need for strict personal and environmental hygiene.
The deworming exercise is expected to cover public and private primary schools across 12 Local Government Areas of the State where they are endemic.
The four other local government areas were the exercise will not take place are Patigi, Oke ero, Edu and Oyun.
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