More than half at risk of worm infestation, ministry says

What you need to know:

  • At the launch of the school deworming scheme at Mwatate Primary School in Taita Taveta on Thursday, Dr Sultan Matendechero, the head of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit at the education Ministry, said infestation was common in children aged between five and 15.

  • He said the children at risk represented 28 per cent of the Kenya’s population.

More than half of Kenya’s population is at risk of being infested with worms, the Ministry of Health has said.

At the launch of the school deworming scheme at Mwatate Primary School in Taita Taveta on Thursday, Dr Sultan Matendechero, the head of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit at the Education Ministry, said infestation was common in children aged between five and 15.

He said the children at risk represented 28 per cent of the country’s population.

Dr Matendechero said the ministries of Health and Education, together with other partners, were running a deworming programme in 16,000 primary schools in 28 counties.

He said more than nine million children were at risk of being infested with worms.

“Out of this population, 7.8 million are in school. In the last four years, we have reached more than six million pupils, which is also our target this year,” he said.

He urged Kenyans to practise good hygiene.

“Let us use toilets and other good measures to prevent worm infestation,” he said.

POOR ATTENDANCE

Education PS Bellio Kipsang said intestinal parasitic worms led to poor attendance and concentration in school, and increased dropout rates.

He said studies had shown that deworming children helped reduce absenteeism from school by about 25 per cent, and that the wages of dewormed adults were higher than the ones with worms by about 20 per cent.

Garissa, Machakos, Trans Nzoia, Kitui, Kilifi, Kisumu, Siaya, Bungoma, Busia, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kakamega, Kisii, Kwale, Kericho, Wajir, Baringo, Vihiga and Mandera are some of the counties where worm infestation is high.

The ministry’s head of school feeding programme Stewart Mwongera said the scheme had improved education standards in the 28 counties.

Mr Mwongera said there was a notable improvement in class attendance, concentration and participation.

“Pupils dewormed are more active in class and are eager to learn,” he said.

However, he said studies had shown that there was a slight increase in reinfestation a year after the administration of deworming drugs.

“After deworming, pupils go home where other family members are not treated,” he said. Mr Mwongera added that the programme would also target communities around schools.