Cross River State Launches Annual Deworming Exercise in Collaboration with Evidence Action
CALABAR – The Cross River State Ministry of Health’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) unit is set to launch its annual comprehensive state-wide, school-based deworming exercise in collaboration with Evidence Action, a US-based international organization.
The exercise, scheduled to take place from April 24th to 26th, 2024, aims to treat soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and Schistosomiasis, diseases that are particularly common in children.
Speaking at a Media Parley jointly organized by Evidence Action, Nigeria and the State Ministry of Health, Toochi Ohaji, the Country’s Senior Manager of Evidence Action, Nigeria, revealed that last year, they successfully dewormed 653,000 school children against NTDs.
He also highlighted that the World Health Organization (WHO) had donated NTD drugs free of charge, emphasizing the importance of deworming every child at least every six months according to WHO standards.
Mrs. Veronica Mark, the NTD Coordinator from the State Ministry of Health, Cross River State, shared during her presentation that a total of 623,828 school-aged children will be targeted to receive Mebendozole tablets for the preventive treatment of STH, while 173,000 children will be targeted for Schistosomiasis treatment.
The treatment will be carried out in 14 Local Government Areas in Cross River State between April 24th and 29th, 2024.
Globally, more than 1 billion children are at risk of intestinal worm infections. In Nigeria alone, over 48 million school-age children require treatment for STH infection, and 16.6 million school-age children require treatment for schistosomiasis.
These infections, caused by poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, are most prevalent in school-age children and can lead to anemia, malnourishment, and impaired mental and physical development. If left untreated, these conditions can ultimately affect children’s educational outcomes and their future income as adults.
It is alarming that these infections disproportionately affect the poor, as they are less able to afford diagnosis and treatment costs. This further contributes to the inequality gap and hinders the country’s development goals of equitable access to health and education.
Since 2016, Evidence Action has been providing technical assistance to the Federal and Cross River State Government in implementing school-based deworming for STH and schistosomiasis in the state.
Every year, they deliver treatment to over 600,000 children in both public and private schools, as treating at-risk children through schools is an evidence-based and cost-effective solution.
Evidence Action has been working as a partner in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Cross River State, providing technical assistance in planning, capacity building, logistics, data collection and reporting, community mobilization, and monitoring and supervision of the school deworming program for STH and schistosomiasis.
The school-based deworming program is implemented by the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) program of the Cross Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the State Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
Deworming drugs are donated through the World Health Organization’s drug donation program.
As part of the upcoming deworming exercise in Cross River State, approximately 1000 healthcare workers will be trained to administer deworming tablets in over 2000 schools and 2000 communities across the 14 Local Government Areas.
This comprehensive effort aims to protect the health and well-being of the school-aged children in the state, ultimately contributing to their overall development and future success. Therefore, Evidence Action, Nigeria has join voices with the State Ministry of Health to appeal to the parents in the state to advise their children to actively take part in the coming Deworming exercise for the health benefits of their children in general.
