Kwara State government has announced plan to de-worm 776,896 children between the ages of five and 14. The exercise will take place in 15 local government areas of the state.
It is aimed at combating schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis through the mass administration of medicines in all the 15 endemic local government areas.
The commissioner for health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, disclosed this yesterday during the opening of a workshop in Ilorin, the state capital to equip personnel with the necessary skills to ensure a smooth and effective de-worming campaign in the state.
El-Imam emphasised the significance of the exercise in promoting the health and well-being of children and called on parents, guardians and school authorities to support the programme.
She disclosed that to ensure the success of the programme, the government would train 3,000 teachers, 775 community-directed distributors, 300 health workers, 125 social mobilization officers who will be deployed across the 15 endemic councils.
