Lagos State government has revealed that it would carry out a mass school based deworming campaign from May 20 to 24, 2024 with the target of reaching over 1.4 million school-aged children enrolled in both private, public schools as well as those out-of-school.
During the exercise, Neglected Tropical Disease Coordinator, Roseline Dawodu, said deworming tablets will be administered by over 3000 well trained community health workers and teachers to school-aged children in 10 high burden local councils. It listed the councils to include: Ajeromi-ifelodun, AmuwoOdofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, IbejiLekki, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo, and Shomolu.
The deworming tablet to be given is Mebendazoleand it is part of the preventive treatment of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) infections.
Senior Manager, Evidence Action, Maryann Edeh, said since 2021, Evidence Action, which is partnering with Lagos State on the deworming exercise, has provided technical assistance to the federal and Lagos State governments to implement school-based deworming exercise and in 2023, it supported the delivery of approximately 1.3 million treatments to both public and private schools and communities in Lagos.
“Over 48 million school-age children in Nigeria require treatment for STH infection. These infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions with the highest prevalence in school age children.
“Left untreated, it is said can lead to anemia, malnourishment and physical impairment that will compromise a child’s educational outcomes and income as an adult.”
“Worm infections disproportionately affect the poor, who are less able to afford the costs of diagnosis and treatment. This exacerbates current inequality and impedes the nation’s progress toward achieving equitable access to health and education.”
