Ogun targets 1.3m pupils for 2018 deworming exercise

In a bid to reduce morbidity, disability and mortality caused by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), the Ogun state Government is set to deworm 1.3 million children of school age in the state.

Babatunde Ipaye, the State Commissioner for Health, made this known during a One-Day social Mobilization Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases Implementation Programme Organised by the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health in conjunction with Evidence Action held at the NMA house in Abeokuta.

Ipaye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Nafiu Aigoro said prior to the commencement of 2018 deworming exercise, there will be continuous mobilisation of critical stakeholders such as religious, community leaders and teachers, adding that this will forestall any hindrance to the success of the programme.

The commissioner disclosed further that the deworming exercise would be in three stages. The first of which would be focused on School Based Deworming Exercise in four Local Governments with over 50 percent prevalence of NTD in the state and it was targeted at children of ages 5-14, the second phase was Community Treatment in 18 LGAs for people between age 5 and above while the third would be second round of 2018 School Based Deworming Exercise in 20 LGAs in the state.

“Before we have another round, we will continue to sustain our mobilization and that is why we have organized this social mobilization programme to engage the critical stakeholders. As we can see part of the participants are community leaders, religious leaders and teachers that we’ve called upon to sensitize them that we will be having another exercise”, Ipaye said.

He therefore advised parents to embrace the exercise as it is free and tested to saved and effective, saying that the improvement of the health status of citizens particularly children was of the utmost priority of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun led-administration.

“I will use this opportunity to tell our people out there that these initiative is for the benefit of all our children and these are leaders of tomorrow, we must ensure that they are healthy and it will improve their cognitive function so I want to encourage all our mothers out there that they should embrace this, they should not listen to rumor this is free, it is safe.  We want to improve the health status of our children so that they can be useful as leaders of tomorrow”, the Commissioner urged.

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta