By Lola Badejo
Ogun state government on Tuesday called on parents to constantly take interest in the deworming of their children in order for them to be physically and mentally stable and withstand some health challenges that may come their way.
The government also described the ongoing school-based deworming exercise as an initiative that will improve the wellbeing of children in the State, irrespective of their various background.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker who said this at the flag-off of the second phase of the State's biannual school-based deworming exercise for year 2020 in Abeokuta, noted that worms constitute a major cause of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the country, saying 25 percent of NTDs cases in Africa are found in Nigeria.
She said that despite the low mortality associated with NTDs, the disease burden comes with negative socio-economic consequences for residents, emphasising the impact of worms on children's wellness.
"Regular deworming will go a long way in protecting our children mentally and physically, loss of school days, vulnerability to malaria and other diseases. Although deworming is not a highly celebrated health activity, its significance cannot be overemphasized," she said.
The Commissioner said the Prince Dapo Abiodun government's vision for the health sector is to make qualitative and affordable healthcare accessible to all citizens, particularly children and mothers, adding that the Ministry of Health would collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to fine-tune schedule fixed for deworming of school-age children in the State's annual activities.
The guest lecturer, Head of Department, Community Medicine and Primary Care Development, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Dr. Imhonopi Bosede, said more than 1 in 4 persons in Sub-Saharan Africa had intestinal worms, noting that a dewormed child would not endanger his contacts and the community at large.
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