Health

Oyo State Government has partnered with Evidence Action, an NGO, to deworm school age children in 13 local government areas across the state.

Mrs Jemila Aliyu, State Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Disease, made the disclosure during a sensitization programme in Ibadan on Monday.

She said that the deworming exercise would start on October 23 in the affected councils.

The local governments areas are Afijio, Akinyele, Atiba, Egbeda, Irepo, Iseyin, Lagelu, Ogo Oluwa, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Oyo East, Oyo West and Saki West.

She stated that the the first round of the school-age deworming exercise was conducted in February.

“The deworming exercise would hold for five days, while teachers from the affected councils will be trained on October 16 on how to administer the drugs on the children.

“The prevalence of intestinal worms across the affected councils is over 60 per cent. In this case, the children are expected to undergo the exercise twice in a year which the first was held in February,” she said.

Aliyu said that the exercise was targeted at children from age five to 14, adding the exercise included both public and private schools.

She urged the teachers to ensure that a tablet of Mebendazole was given to each child to swallow, counseling the parents on the tolerability of the tablet.

“It is compulsory for the parents to ensure their wards between the age range go to school for the tablet. It is important for the children to take the tablet, having taken the first round.

“The children have taken the first round which included Mebendazole and Praziquantel,” she said.

Mr Joseph Kumbur, Programme Manager, Evidence Action, said the NGO was partnering the state with funds and technical expertise towards the control of such epidemics as well as intestinal worms in the state.

“Our support to Oyo State started in 2017. We are supporting all the 33 local governments that are endemic. The local governments required twice per year treatment due to high prevalence of the disease.

“In February this year, we dewormed children in 32 local governments across the state and now we are ready to do the second round in 13 local government that requires twice per year treatment, ” he said.

Kumbur said that they were on unable to meet the required 75 percent coverage in the February exercise conducted, adding less than the local governments had the coverage due to inadequate publicity.

He said that the essence of the stateholders’ meeting was to ensure adequate publicity and encourage parents to allow their children participate in the exercise.

Kumbur appreciated the enthusiasm of parents and teachers to participate in the exercise, saying he was hopeful of better results.

He said that worms have impact on the ability of children to learn, their ability to grow and affects their overall livelihood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by members of the State Mobilisation Committee and media professionals.