Ogun State Government has commenced a school-based deworming exercise, targeted at both public and private school children in the State.

The exercise, according to a statement to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin is expected to cover about 900,000 school children across 10 selected Local Government areas of the State.

Governor Abiodun in the statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, called on parents and guardians to work harmoniously with the health workers who are saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the deworming exercise.

The Governor noted that the exercise was an opportunity for the children to get rid of worms that may have adverse health effects and make them susceptible to skin and respiratory infections.

He disclosed that a total of 839, 273 children are going to be dewormed in 4,900 schools in the designated 10 Local government areas.

“The second round of the exercise for children between age 5 and 14, commenced last Friday and will end on November 24.

“The designated Local Government Areas are: Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ifo, Odeda,Yewa North, Yewa South, Odogbolu, Sagamu, Ijebu North and Ogun Waterside respectively,” the Governor disclosed.

He said, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the exercise is meant to enhance the children’s health and help guard against untoward health condition that may result in absenteeism from school, admonishing parents, guardians and all stakeholders to allow their children and wards participate in the exercise.

In her remarks, the State Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Dr. Islamiyat Soneye, thanked the parents for their enthusiasm towards the school-based deworming exercise, urging them to encourage their friends to take part in the exercise to avoid infecting others.

While monitoring the exercise in Odeda Local Government area, the Medical Officer of Health in charge of the area, Dr. Olusan Oluwaseun, noted that the turn-out was impressive, just as he assured that all schools within the area will be touched without leaving any out of the programme.

Olusan appreciated the teachers for their support which has made the task easy to carry-out, pointing out that children who are yet to be dewormed will be attended to in the coming days.