BY ADELEKE ADESANYA
AS part of efforts to ensure sound health of indigenes, the Ogun State Government has commenced a deworming exercise for 700,000 school-age children across the state.
The exercise is expected to be carried out across 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
The designated council areas are Obafemi Owode, Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Odeda, Ewekoro, Yewa South, Yewa North, Remo North, Ikenne, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Ijebu East, Ogun Waterside and Imeko.
Revealing the development, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said only children between ages five and 14 years would benefit from the programme.
Coker said about 5,000 teachers and 600 health workers in the designated local government areas had been trained for the exercise, The Point reports.
“This programme is an opportunity to help children guard against untoward health conditions that might result in absenteeism from school. Regular deworming rids them of worms that might make them vulnerable to skin and respiratory infections,” the Commissioner noted.
“Parents in the council areas, that were picked based on endemicity of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), should take advantage of this programme and ensure that their children are dewormed. They should ensure that the kids are well-fed throughout the days of the exercise,” the state government added.
The Commissioner also implored parents and guardians in the state to cooperate with health workers carrying out the exercise.
