The State Government, South-West Nigeria has announced plans to conduct a mass school-based de-worming campaign from May 20 to May 24, 2024, targeting 1.4m children in private and public schools. It noted that the de-worming, which will be carried out by the Lagos State Ministry of Health Neglected Tropical Diseases unit, is meant to bridge the gap as over 48 million school-age children in Nigeria were yet to be treated for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis infection.
According to the NTD unit, the infections are due to poor sanitation and hygiene conditions with the highest prevalence in school-age children. The campaign will target over 1.4m school-age children enrolled in both private and public schools, as well as those out of school. The school-based de-worming is implemented by the Neglected Tropical Disease program of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in partnership with the State Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Speaking on Friday, during an Interactive stakeholders’ meeting with journalists for the school de-worming program, the NTD Coordinator, State Ministry of Health, Mrs Roseline Dawodu, explained that if Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis is left untreated, it could lead to anaemia, malnourishment, and physical impairment that would compromise a child’s educational outcomes and income as an adult.
Soil-transmitted Helminth infections are caused by various species of parasitic worms transmitted through eggs present in human faeces, contaminating soil in areas with poor sanitation. She said, “The campaign will distribute Mebendazole tablets for preventative treatment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, administered by over 3,000 well-trained community health workers and teachers, to school-aged children in 10 high-burden Local Government Areas; Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and Shomolu in the state.”
Dawodu added that over 48 million school-age children in Nigeria need treatment for STH infection, saying these infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions with the highest prevalence in school-age children. She revealed that since 2021, Evidence Action has been a steadfast partner, providing technical assistance to the Federal and Lagos State Governments in implementing school-based de-worming. The Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, revealed that the objective of the meeting was to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the media and journalists regarding the Lagos School De-worming program. “To foster a collaborative relationship with media journalists and secure their commitment to disseminate accurate and timely information about the Lagos school de-worming program and to ensure continuous and timely collaboration between development partners and the media for health-related program in the state,” he said.
Senior Program Manager, Evidence Action, Maryann Edeh, who represented Country Director, Tope Ogunbi, said Evidence Action was set to move into the 10 LGA’s and ensure that all at-risk children between the ages of five to 14 have access to medicines. “The medicines are safe, they are free of charge. We are using this opportunity to call on every parent to release their children,” she advised. Director of Social Mobilization, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hazmat Omolaja, also said, “Every parent should allow their children to take the de-worming drug because it is very important. ” When children take it, they become healthier, and when they are healthy, they pay better attention in class, which enhances learning outcomes.”
