Health
THE Kwara chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) dewormed about 2,500 primary school pupils in selected local government areas of the state on Wednesday.
The exercise was part of activities marking its 2022 PSN Week.
Its chairman, Mr Adejuwon Otelaja, said the school-based exercise where the pupils were administered with Albendazole suspension was conducted in partnership with a private company.
Otelaja stressed the importance of deworming of children, noting that worms infected a lot of children, especially among the poor and could have acute consequences on their development.
He listed the consequences to include nutritional imbalance, retarded cognitive development, learning and educational access and achievement, among others.
He said the deworming is safe and that the PSN was collaborating with the Kwara Ministry of Health to promote health in people, especially in children.
He said also that the PSN would support children’s healthcare in the 16 local government areas of the state and that it had been partnering with international organisations to assist the state government in healthcare interventions.
Otelaja stressed that the PSN would foster long-term partnership with the state and would always intervene to help the poor, the vulnerable and children in health matters.
In her remarks, Dr Grace Medubi, Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said the deworming was part of PSN’s efforts to give back to the community.
The pharmacist explained that deworming was necessary to promote the mental abilities of primary schools children and to promote their wellbeing.
Responding in her school, Mrs Ramat Abdurahman, the headmistress of Okesunna Primary School, Ilorin appreciated the PSN for the humanitarian gesture.
She appealed to the PSN to assist the school built, in 1915 to address some of its challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deworming was conducted in schools in Ilorin, Offa, and Erinle, among other towns and cities. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Dr Grace Medubi Mr Adejuwon Otelaja Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
