Mrs. Ambode charges parents to maintain clean environment
Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has charged parents in the State to encourage hand-washing among their children as well as maintain a clean and healthy environment in order to prevent them from contracting infections.
The Lagos First Lady gave the charge while speaking at Maryland, lkeja during the flag-off of the mass de-worming exercise for primary school pupils organized by the State's Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
She noted that worm parasites contributed significantly to malnutrition in children by stealing the nutrients they ingest, leading to dangerous health conditions like severe anaemia, stunted growth and low immunity amongst others.
According to her, "De-worming children helps them to develop well and boost their learning capability. This is a great advantage that cannot be ignored because good academic performance will to a large extent determine the future of a child".
Speaking further, Mrs. Ambode reminded teachers of their responsibility towards educating children on healthy habits for good growth and development.
In her contribution, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, disclosed that over 60,000 pupils from various primary schools in the State would be de-wormed using WHO-recommended drugs.
She revealed that worm infection had been identified as one of the major challenges to healthy growth and development of children, which the human system did not have the natural means of combating.
According to her, "Worms infect more than one-third of the world's population, with the most intense infections in children and the poor".
She promised that the current administration would continue to take proactive measures that would assist healthy development and robust welfare of children in the State.