Oyo Gov’t Deworms 5m Residents, Offers Drugs To Curb River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis

Oyo State government has disclosed that over 5 million residents would benefit from the 2024 mass deworming campaign and mass administration of medicines against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in the state.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Oluwaserimi Adetumobi who disclosed this at a press conference to flag off the exercise, urged communities and residents to fully participate in the free health exercise which would be safely administered from house to house.

Ajetumobi also explained that the free deworming exercise has been scheduled to end on November 30, 2024, as over 700 trained health workers along with over 16,000 dedicated volunteers have been mobilised to administer various medications and create public awareness to improve the overall health of the people.

She said that, “In light of these pressing health issues, I urge everyone in our communities to participate actively in the ongoing free deworming campaign scheduled from November 21 to November 30, 2024.

“We have mobilised over 700 trained health workers along with more than 16,000 dedicated volunteers who will be actively participating in this year’s free deworming campaign targeting 5,243,979 at risk individuals aged 5 years and above across 31 local government areas in our state to safely administer these medicines from house-to house.

“Their commitment and hard work are vital as they will be responsible for administering medications and educating the public about these diseases.

“This extensive campaign is crucial for reducing the prevalence of these diseases and improving the overall health of our communities.

“It is crucial for all eligible individuals- especially children aged 5 years and above to take these tablets as they play a vital role in controlling these diseases,” Ajetumobi said.

He added that administration of these medications not only protects individual health but also contributes significantly to community-wide efforts aimed at eliminating these diseases altogether.

“I encourage parents and guardians to ensure their children receive these treatments during the campaign period.

“Health workers will be available at designated centers throughout our communities to provide information and distribute medications safely,” he said.