Posted by By Agha Ibiam on
The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Emzor Pharmaceutical Plc has commenced this year deworming exercise of school children both in primary and secondary schools. The programme which was flagged-off on Tuesday at the Central Primary School, Ikeja marked the fourth of conducting such an event.
The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Emzor Pharmaceutical Plc has commenced this year deworming exercise of school children both in primary and secondary schools. The programme which was flagged-off on Tuesday at the Central Primary School, Ikeja marked the fourth of conducting such an event.
Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu at the event noted that the programme is one of the various ways by which government is discharging its responsibility of promoting the good health of every child. As stated in Article 8 of the United Nations Convection on the right of the child, she said the administration recognises the entitlement of every child, irrespective of socio-economic and cultural background to good health, protection from disease and qualitative medical care for survival, personal growth and development.
The emphasis on worm infection just as it is being alone in the case of the deadly polio explained was informed by its uniqueness. "According to medical experts, the body does not have the natural means to combat worm infestations without treatment. This is to promote healthy growth among our children by ensuring that they are worm infestation free. This will further result in the enhancement of their mental development as they would have been protected against the effects of worm attack which include anaemia, malnutrition, stunted growth and low immunity against diseases amongst others", she said.
The care for children Mrs. Tinubu said is the responsibility of the society which includes parents, government, teachers and others, adding that the collective desire to give the children a sound foundation in terms of good education, sound health and good morals can only be achieved if each component of the society play the role expected of it.
She appealed to the school children to continue to observe personal hygiene and maintain the habit of washing hands properly before and after meals.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire revealed that a total number of 257,000 children were dewormed last year and on a yearly basis since the programe commenced.
She reiterated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) informed that over 20 million Nigerian harbour intestinal worms of various species especially ring worms, tape worms and ribbon worms.