Rebecca Ejifoma
As part of its commitment to protect the health of children from diseases, NNPL/Chevron Co-ventures has commenced mass de-worming of at least 60, 000 children between six and 12 kicked off in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State alongside medical trainings to further combat other forms of communicable diseases.
The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, (PGPA) Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the exercise, which has also been replicated in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, and Ondo states has covered about 500,000 children.
The GM, represented by the Manager (PGPA), Lagos, Mr. Sam Otuonye, affirmed that their target for this year was to deworm 60, 000 pupils in Eti-Osa LGA using the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended Albendazole (Zentel), which is acclaimed to be one of the most potent drugs in the treatment of parasitic worms especially in kids. Adding that research has shown that children that were not regularly dewormed were prone to loss of iron and protein; leading to stunting.
“Other social investments are provision of health centre at St. Kizito Clinic in Lekki, control and eradication of tuberculosis and other infections common to HIV/AIDS patients; HIV/AIDS testing campaign in Badagry and mass de-worming exercise for school children in Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe, Eti-osa and Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas among several others.
“The company has also executed Roll Back Malaria (RBM) awareness campaign in Ojo, Oshodi, Ikeja, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki LGAs, and donated a molecular biology research laboratory to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH). It was the laboratory that detected the first case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria thereby contributing to Nigeria’s ability to control the spread of the highly infectious and dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in 2014,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Medical Officer of Health Centre Ikota, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, has told pupils to wash their hands eight times every day with water and soap, adding “You should wash your hands with soap and water eight times daily. Don’t buy roadside foods that are not covered. It is exposed to germs. Don’t pick food from the floor,” he said.
Speaking further at the launch, the Group General Manager, Policy, Napims, Dafe Sejebor lauded the project as one that is designed to ensure children between ages six and 12 across the nation are dewormed of infectious parasites; thereby, preventing them from contracting other dangerous and life-threatening diseases.
The GGM, who was represented by the Deputy Manager, Community Relations, Ms. Clementine Aruba, assured that as a government agency, “We are always pleased to see companies investing in programmes that add value to Nigerians and their environment. We will continue to support such that aim to protect our children and improve the standard of living in our society.”
