The Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC)/Chevron Joint Venture has commenced Mass De-worming
Programme that will cover 60,000 pupils in Ondo State...
The programme, which will cover pupils
in three local governments of Idanre, Okitipupa and Owo, was flagged off
at St. Paul Mega Primary School, OdodeIdanre, and witnessed by
stakeholders in the local government, the State
Ministries of Education
and Health, and the wife of the Ondo State
governor, Mrs. Betty
Anyanwun-Akeredolu.
The programme was the second phase of
the deworming exercise as the first phase was implemented in 2013 during
which 80,000 pupils were dewormed in Akure North, Akure South and Ilaje
Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the occasion, the General
Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Mr. Esimaje
Brikinn, said the exercise was one of the initiatives through which the
NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture seeks to uplift the health and development of
Nigerians especially the
children. Brikinn, who was represented by the
Director of Government Affairs, Senator Gbenga Aluko, said that
exercise, targeted at a
total of 60,000 children is designed to make
them healthier as
the parasites (worm) which snapped their energies are
destroyed.
“In this programme, the target children
would be given safe and effective medicines produced by GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) Limited to eliminate infecting worms while there is also a health
education
aspect to ensure that children are taught how to avoid
re-infection
through personal hygiene.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony, wife
of the Ondo State governor, Anyanwu-Akeredolu observed that the
deworming exercise
would help grow the health status of the school
children while
soliciting for proper hygienic environment among the
people.
The First Lady who commended the contributions of the joint
partner
venture (NNPC/Chevron) to the development of the health sector
of the
state, also pleaded personal hygiene among the school pupils.
The State Commissioner for Education,
Mr. Femi Agagu said the deworming
exercise would help the children to
develop well and boost their
learning capabilities in the society.
”This
great intervention from NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture will give each of
these pupils the opportunity of a good future because the
future of a
child depends on sound health and education.”
Also, his counterparts from the Ministry
of Health, Dr. Wahab
Adegbenro, argued that worm infestation was a
leading cause of ill health among school age children mostly in
developing countries.
Adegbenro, however, solicited the need for the
children to be
deworm every three months in order to improve their
health wise and
growth.
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