Lagos targets 1.3 million school children for mass deworming in 10 councils

LAGOS State government, yesterday, commenced free school- based deworming exercise to treat soil transmitted helminthiasis ( STH), targeting 1.3 million school- aged children between ages five and 14 years, 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 councils, including Ajeromi/ Ifelodun, Amuwo- Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju- Lekki, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and Somolu.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who spoke on the modalities for the implementation of the exercise, said that the five- day deworming would be carried out from Tuesday, November 22 to Saturday, November 26, 2022.

He added that children between the ages of five and 14 in schools and communities in the 10 local councils would be dewormed and treated for soil transmitted helminthiasis using Albendazole tablets during the exercise.