[ 2016-09-26 ]

GHS, GES begin school deworming programme
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration
with the Ghana Education Service (GES) would begin
a de-worming exercise for children in all public
basic schools today, Monday Spetember 26, 2016.

Thousands of children from the kindergarten level
through to the Junior High in over 20,000 schools
are expected to re­ceive a tablet of
Albenda­zole each.

This was made known at a press briefing in Accra
last week by officials from the Neglected Tropical
Diseases Programme (NTDP) under GHS.

Trained personnel, who will administer the
medi­cines, would also educate the pupils about
the dangers of worm infestations.

The Deputy Programmes Manager for NTDs at the
Ghana Health Service, Dr Kofi Marfo, said the
de-worming exercise would have enormous benefits
for the health of children since it would improve
their ap­petite and well-being.

"Regular deworming also promotes good nutri­tion
since there would not be any worms feeding on the
child's food intake", he said, adding that
consider­ing the link between worm infestation,
sanitation and hygiene, children would be given
reinforced sanitation and hygiene education as
part of the deworming ac­tivities.

He also mentioned that the disease affects about
seven million people yearly in Ghana, saying it
was unacceptable and called for a change in
attitude, espe­cially with open defecation.

The exercise, which is expected to last for one
week with the possibility of an extension, is
aimed at reducing the prevalence of NTDs in Ghana
by 2020.

Dr Marfo advised par­ents to make sure their kids
are fed before going to school so as to prevent
any side effects of the medicine, saying taking
the drugs on empty stomachs are the major cause of
the effects that come up after the drug
administration.

The NTDs are a group of infectious and parasitic
dis­eases and about 17 of them are found in the
most im­poverished communities of the world.

In Ghana, there are 12 of such diseases and this
in­cludes, amongst others, soil transmitted worms
and schistosomiasis diseases (bilharzia) which are
most common in humans and the most vulnerable is
school children aged from 5-14 years.

Worm infection may lead to diarrhoea, vomiting
distended abdomen, fatigiu and loss of weight,
which ul­timately tends to stunted growth, loss
of cognitive function and school absen­teeism.

Schistosomiasis may also lead to passing of bloody
urine, feaces, vomit­ing and fatigue. It may lead
to cancer of the bladder.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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