Lagos State government has commenced free school based deworming exercises to treat soil transmitted helminthiasis (STH) , saying it is targeting 1.3 million school aged children between ages of five and 14 year who are at risk of parasitic worm infections in the state.
The exercise which is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and a non-governmental organisation, Evidence Action holds in 10 soil transmitted helminthiasis endemic local government areas of Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and Shomolu.
The commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, while speaking to newsmen disclosed that more than 1.5 billion people, representing 24 per cent of the world’s population, are infected with soil-transmitted helminth infections adding that over 875 million of this population are children.
He said Nigeria has the second-largest population of infected children worldwide with the prevalence of about 29 million cases, bringing to fore the need to put in place strategies to treat and eliminate soil-transmitted helminth and schistosomiasis infections.
“According to various surveys that have been conducted by the FMOH, soil transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis have been detected in several LGAs at a level that require mass treatment of all school-age children. Soil-transmitted helminths are significant public health burdens in Nigeria. Evidence has shown that worm infections interfere with nutrient uptake causing anemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development”, Abayomi stated.
The commissioner disclosed that the deworming exercise which is scheduled from Tuesday 22nd to Saturday 26th November, 2022, targets children, aged five and 14 years, in schools and communities in the 10 LGAs, who are vulnerable and most at risk, while urging residents in the affected LGAs to take advantage of the exercise.
