The Kwara State Government on Monday in Ilorin flagged-off the Deworming programme for 810,267 school-aged children across the Local Government Areas in the State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, who made this known during the flag off ceremony at Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, explained that school children would be administered Mebendazole tablets for the control of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, El-Imam described the programme as a vital public health intervention and stated that the STH is one of the most widespread and persistent Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
According to her, “the STH infections are caused by parasitic worms such as roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms. These worms are spread through contaminated soil, especially in environments with poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene practices.
“Children are the most vulnerable because they play on the ground, walk barefoot, and sometimes eat without proper hand washing”.
El-Imam disclosed that the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies STH as one of the most common infections among school-aged children in developing countries.
Also speaking, the Country Director of Sightsavers, Prof Joy Shuaibu, stated that the organisation had been at the forefront of eliminating NTDs in Nigeria.
Prof Shuaibu who was represented by the Kwara State Programme Officer of Sightsavers, Mr Olalekan Ajayi, said the organisation started its intervention programmes on prevention and treatment of eyes infection.
She explained that over the years, the organisation had also been active in fighting and eliminating groups of infectious diseases like; leprosy, rabies, trachoma, and schistosomiasis.
She commended the State government for its commitment towards the elimination of NTDs and prioritizing healthcare in the State.
Shuaib emphasized that the drug is safe and efficacious for the children, while appealing to parents to give maximum support for the deworming programme.
In her address, the NTDs Programme Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Bamigboye explained that school children between ages five years to 14 bear the highest burden of the disease due to poor hygiene and exposure to contaminated soil.
She further emphasized that regular deworming boosts immunity, reduces anemia, improves school attendance and concentration, informing that the treatment would be administered across schools and communities in 12 LGAs.
The Representative of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Shehu Oniyangi lauded the State government for the healthcare intervention as he described children as future leaders of the country who must be protected while also enjoining caregivers to support the deworming programme.
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