The Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) programme of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, has kicked off its annual statewide, school-based initiative to deworm a total of 882,415 school-age children.
This exercise will span across eight local government areas of the state and will provide treatment for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis. Mordecai Israel, the NTD Coordinator at the Rivers State Ministry of Health, mentioned that 3,000 health workers and teachers have been engaged for this undertaking.
He stated, “Over 48 million school-age children in Nigeria require treatment for STH infection and 16.6 million require treatment for schistosomiasis.
“The Mebendazole tablets for preventative treatment of STH, which are free of charge, will be administered by over 3,000 well-trained health workers and teachers, to school-aged children in over 3,000 schools across eight LGAs including Abua Odual, Ahoada West, Eleme, Emohua, Gokana, Obio Akpor, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and Tai.
“The exercise will commence on June 4, 2024, with teachers to be trained on May 28, 2024, while other LGAs will be captured in subsequent programmes.”
He explained that through partnerships, 800,000 children in Rivers State will de-worm annually. He emphasised the underserved in the communities are particularly susceptible to infection, and their inability to cover the costs of diagnosis and treatment exacerbates and hampers progress toward achieving equitable access to healthcare and education. He highlighted challenges such as staff retirements without replacements, lack of commitment and ownership, absence of capital funding from both the State and Local Government levels, prioritisation issues, delayed fund release post-budgeting, and inadequate advocacy and sensitisation efforts, all affecting the efficacy of the exercise.
To address these challenges, the state is focusing on redeploying retired staff, allocating capital funding, and enhancing media engagement to broaden the distribution of information regarding the deworming programme across the state.
It’s also important to note that deworming drugs are being provided through the World Health Organization’s drug donation programme.