A pharmaceutical company, Biomedical Limited has commenced mass deworming campaign across the three Senatorial Districts of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, with 17,000 school children being administered doses of deworming syrup.
The deworming campaign is one of the activities lined up for the 40th anniversary of the company.
The Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi, flagged off the exercise in Ilorin and administered doses of deworming syrup on selected school children at an event held at his office.
Alabi, who particularly acknowledged the support of the management of biomedical to the health sector in the state, said its latest intervention was critical to health system in the state.
He also expressed the gratitude of the state government to the pharmaceutical industry, for its partnership with the government.
“This is not the first we are partnering with Biomedical Limited. During the outbreak of Covid-19, they were one of the very first that came to assist us and they did well for us.
“We appreciate you because this is very important for the health of the kids here. We are hoping and praying that you will do more for us, because the government can’t do it alone.”
The Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. (Mrs) Nusirat Elelu, identified worm in the body as leading cause of malnutrition in children, adding that, it could precipitate stunting for victims.
Elelu, who applauded the pharmaceutical company for its effort, said findings had revealed that biomedical Limited, has been diligent in drug production for the benefit of mankind.
She said, “Biomedical Limited is partnering with the Kwara State government to support deworming programme for our children. We know that deworming is a very important strategy in health because parasites are worms as people know them.
“It is one of the leading cause of malnutrition in children and in extreme cases, it can lead to stunting where you have children having pot bellies due to a huge burden of worm.
“One of the guidelines is that, children need to be dewormed every six months, in order to prevent these worms from affecting our children.”
The Marketing Manager, Biomedical Limited, Watson Olojo, said the deworming campaign was part of the corporate social responsibility of his company.
Olojo said, “We are the foremost pharmaceutical company not only in Nigeria but among the first indigenous company to produce intravenous medicine in West Coast of Africa. What we are doing today is one of the events we put forward to mark our 40th anniversary.
“We have chosen to use this corporate social responsibility programme in the form of mass deworming for school children to celebrate the 40th anniversary.”
The deworming syrup was administered on school children at Oke-Suna, Okelele, Okelele, Gambari, Ganmo, Amoyo and Jimba Oja. It was also done for both private and public institutions at Shao and Abati/Alara Ward in Moro local government area of the state, which also attracted house to house programme.
Temitope/NAN
