The campaign will target over 1.4m school-age children enrolled in both private and public schools, as well as those out of school.

The school-based deworming is implemented by the Neglected Tropical Disease programme of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, in partnership with the State Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education and Federal Ministry of Health.

Speaking on Friday, during an Interactive stakeholders’ meeting with journalists for the school deworming programme, the NTD Coordinator, State Ministry of Health, Mrs Roseline Dawodu, explained that if Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis was left untreated, it could lead to anemia, malnourishment, and physical impairment that would compromise a child’s educational outcomes and income as an adult.

Soil-Transmitted Helminth infections are caused by various species of parasitic worms transmitted through eggs present in human feces, contaminating soil in areas with poor sanitation.

She said, “The campaign will distribute Mebendazole tablets for preventative treatment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, administered by over 3,000 well-trained community health workers and teachers, to school-aged children in 10 high burden Local Government Areas; Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo and Shomolu in the state.”

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