Abia targets 60, 000 children for in-school deworming programme
…To safeguard health, future of Abia children
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Government has flagged off the In – School Deworming Programme for children in public and private schools in six pilot local government areas of the State with the goal of deworming 60, 000 school children.
Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscila Otti, while performing the flag off exercise, said that the In – School Deworming Programme was a proactive approach aimed at safeguarding the health and future of Abia children .
The Ania First Lady said “by providing regular deworming treatments in our schools, we take a significant step toward protecting our children from the harmful effects of these parasites.”
Mrs. Otti, represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, explained that “the In-School Deworming Programme in the State signifies our unwavering commitment to ensuring the welfare of every child who enters our school gates.”
She disclosed that the deworming initiative would be piloted in six local government areas of the state, including Ohafia, Bende, Ikwuano, Isialangwa South, Obingwa and Osisioma, while the target of the in-school children to be dewormed is approximately 60, 000.
The Wife of the Governor said “our decision to focus on children aged 6 to 14 years was informed by research indicating that most donor agencies typically pay more attention to children between the ages of 0 to 5 years. “Recognizing this gap and its implications for our growing generation, the State government, through the In-School Deworming Programme, decided to address it to ensure that every child in Abia is dewormed.”
She enjoined all stakeholders to make the programme a success.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche and Health counterpart, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Princess Agomuo, described the programme as a life-saving exercise and enjoined children, mothers and care givers to ensure children internalised hand washing to enhance hygiene among the children. They commended the Wife of the Governor for the laudable project and assured they would support the programme.
Earlier in her speech, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas, had said that the essence of the In-School Deworming Programme was to eradicate worm infestation among school age children. She disclosed that about 35 million children between 6 to 14 are estimated to be infected with worm. She said , “Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscila Chidinma Otti, realising that school age children between 6 to 14 years were the vulnerable sub-set of the population that are majorly exposed to soil transmission infection,” hence , the introduction of the programme.
Mrs Thomas explained that the deworming exercise was a pilot programme for children in primary one to junior secondary schools in 6 selected LGAs and thanked the Wife of the Governor for her concern for the vulnerable people and appreciated some partners, including civil society organizations, donor agencies, the State Ministry of Health, CARITAS, ANRIN, SOLINA, HSCL and HOPE SPRING for their collaborations.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, Mrs. Caroline Charles, said deworming could reduce the effects of the parasite on children and commended the Wife of the Governor for the initiative and assured that they would continue to collaborate with government to achieve the aim of the programme.
They said that the aim of the exercise was to ensure that every school child was properly dewormed and stressed the need for all to support the programme.
In a vote of thanks, one of the children and student of Body of Christ International School, Umuahia, who benefited from the deworming exercise, Miss Marvelous Darlington, ,thanked the Wife of the Governor for her decision to deworm Abia school children and prayed God to bless her.
A statement by Mr Jinanwa Azubuike and Mr Divine Nwankwo of Government House Press Unit, indicated that highlight of the event was the demonstrative deworming of the school children by the representative of the Governor’s wife.
