Evidence Action to Deworm Over 900,000 School Children in Cross River State

 

By Our Correspondent

In a major public health intervention aimed at improving child health and school performance, a non-governmental organization, Evidence Action, has unveiled plans to deworm over 912,854 school-aged children across 14 Local Government Areas in Cross River State.

The announcement was made during a press briefing in Calabar on Saturday, where the organisation’s Senior Manager, Mr. Toochi Ohaji, disclosed that the state-wide deworming campaign is scheduled to commence from May 14 to May 20, 2025.

Speaking alongside the State Coordinator of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Mrs. Veronica Mark, from the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Mr. Ohaji emphasized that the campaign is focused on promoting better health outcomes among children aged five to fourteen years, with the ultimate goal of eliminating intestinal worm infections in school-age populations.

“Our mission is to ensure that children, particularly those most vulnerable, are free from parasitic worm infections that undermine their physical and cognitive development,” Mr. Ohaji stated.

The NGO used the opportunity to call on government stakeholders, development partners, the media, and the general public to intensify efforts toward sustaining awareness, mobilization, and policy backing for the programme.

“This is not just a medical intervention; it's a social investment,” Ohaji noted. “We urge the government to continue prioritising school-based health programmes, and we call on the media to help us amplify messages that promote hygiene and the uptake of deworming medication.”

According to the programme details, the deworming initiative will be implemented across the following Local Government Areas:

Akamkpa

Akpabuyo

Bakassi

Bekwarra

Biase

Calabar Municipal

Calabar South

Etung

Obanliku

Obudu

Odukpani

Ogoja

Yakurr

Yala

These LGAs were identified based on the prevalence of intestinal worms among children and their vulnerability due to limited access to clean water and sanitation.

Mr. Ohaji assured parents, teachers, and caregivers that the medicines used during the exercise are safe, approved, and provided at no cost. The drugs will be administered by trained personnel in schools, under the supervision of health and education authorities.

“Evidence Action is internationally recognized and also locally registered in Nigeria. We work hand-in-hand with state governments in Cross River, Rivers, Ogun, Lagos, and Oyo states,” he said.

“Since 2016, our school-based deworming programme has reached over 42 million children across Nigeria. This year alone, we’re targeting nearly a million children in Cross River, a testament to our commitment to ensuring no child is left behind.”

Health experts say parasitic worm infections are a leading cause of school absenteeism, fatigue, and poor academic performance. Deworming programmes, such as the one coordinated by Evidence Action, are therefore critical to achieving better health and educational outcomes.

The organization also plans to complement the medical intervention with hygiene education programmes, designed to instill lifelong sanitation practices among children, thereby reducing the risk of reinfection.

As preparations ramp up, communities are encouraged to support and embrace the programme for the greater good of the state’s future generation.