Kwara Govt targets 776,896 school children for deworming
By Binta Sanni
The Kwara Government has commenced deworming of 776,896 school children across 15 Local Government Area of Kwara.
The Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin, during the Official Flag-off Ceremony of Deworming Programme for School-aged Children in Kwara.
“For this year’s mass administration of medicines, we have a target to reach 776,896 school-aged children with deworming tablets in 15 LGA,” she said.
She described the deworming exercise as a critical initiative for the health and well-being of children and communities.
“This deworming campaign is aimed at controlling and preventing Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths among school-aged children, thereby safeguarding the health and well-being of our young learners.
“Children are the future of our nation, and their health is the foundation of their ability to dream, learn, and achieve,” she said.
El-Imam stated that millions of children around the world, and even within our communities, face the silent but significant challenge of parasitic worm infections.
According to her, Schistosomiasis, often called snail fever, and Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), also known as intestinal worms, are silent but cause severe health complications.
She listed these complications to include chronic illness, anaemia, stunted growth, and impaired cognitive development.
The Commissioner for Health observed that these are challenges no child should have to face, and requires collective responsibility to ensure they don’t.
She explained that the deworming campaign is a collaborative effort between the Federal and State Ministry of Health, supporting partners (Sightsavers), schools, and the community.
She reiterated the state government commitment towards disease preventive measures and also promoting clean water, improving sanitation, and raising awareness about the importance of good hygiene practices.
Also speaking, Alhaji Owolabi Rasaq, Chiarman House Committee on Health and Environment in Kwara House of Assembly stated that the programme is laudable as it protects the health of the children.
He advised children against swimming in rivers and ponds to avoid these waterborne diseases.
Mrs. Christiana Bamgboye, the Kwara Coordinator on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), explained that Schistosomiasis is a parasite disease caused by Schistosoma worms.
She added that infection occurs when larval forms of the parasite found in fresh water is contaminated by infected snail host and penetrate the skin.
Bamgboye also explained that the deworming programmes are cornerstone of global health efforts to reduce the burden of NTDs
She said the programme will help reduce the burden of Soil Transmitted Helminthes, Whipworms, Hookworms and Schistosomiasis which affects health, nutrition and education outcomes.
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