Federal Government in collaboration with the private sector on Monday unveiled plans for the development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials required for the deworming of over 10 million Nigerian students in Primary 1-6 under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
The nationwide deworming campaign through mass administration of medicines with Praziquantel (PZQ) tablets in schools and communities are being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.
While addressing the stakeholders at the 5-day strategic meeting held in Nasarawa State, National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Dr Umar Bindir assured that every pupil in public primary schools nationwide will be captured during the deworming exercise, which she said will commence before the Easter break.
Dr Bindir who was represented by the Deputy Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Mrs Safiya Sani said: “The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is one of the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Programmes aimed at providing one free rich nutrient meal every school day to primary 1-3 in public primary schools.
“In line with its multi-sectoral nature, the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme has embedded adjunct school health and nutrition activities, in an effort to maximize the benefits of the free school meals on the health pupils.
“Consequently, the main objective of this 5-day interaction is to outline the modalities for the deworming exercise (which includes sensitising the partners and ensuring their commitment), develop and harmonise the IEC materials and reporting template for the nationwide exercise.
“In view of the professional nature of the project and for effective implementation of the intervention, it requires a strong multi-Sectoral collaboration amongst government ministries, NGOs and CSOs working at the different levels; programme design and planning, sensitization and awareness campaign, drug procurement, training, monitoring and evaluation, school-level implementation and feedback.
“That is why we are all gathered here today with our different hats to ensure successful implementation. I appeal for robust collaboration by all government and non-government stakeholders to achieve the objective of the exercise and ensure its success.”
In his remarks, National President, Basic Education School Health, Mr Aliyu Musa, lamented that State Governments have not been helpful in catering for the health of school pupils, adding that the exercise will gulp a lot of money and therefore needs to be supported.
“We are targeting deworming pupils in schools nationwide. However, the commitment of government, especially state governments, is usually very low. The federal government does a lot through the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, but the State Government neglects to treat tropical diseases. If we don’t have enough support, we cannot do much,” he said.
On his part, National Coordinator of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS), Dr Nse Akpan tasked all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the need to synergize with the view to ensure successful implementation of the deworming programme for the benefits of Nigerian children.
While stressing that any child that is deficient in essential vitamins cannot thrive well educationally, Dr Akpan underscored the need to ensure that every child practices sanitation, safe water supply as part of measures aimed at improving health and educational standards.
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