FREE 5-DAY MASS DEWORMING EXERCISE KICKS-OFF IN VIHIGA COUNTY

The County Government of Vihiga in collaboration with The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education – Kenya and Amref Health Africa in Kenya has today launched a countywide 5-day mass drug administration campaign to combat intestinal worms in Vihiga County. The door-to-door deworming exercise aims to protect communities from the harmful effects of intestinal worms.

Held under the theme “Eliminate Worms, Nurture Families”, the campaign focuses on improving nutritional status, cognitive development, school attendance, and the overall well-being of our communities – particularly children leading to the overall health and well-being of residents.

Health officers and trained Community Health Promoters (CHPs) have been deployed to administer free deworming medicine directly to homes, schools, and workplaces.

The medicine is being given to all children above one year and adults. However, those exempted from the treatment include pregnant women, women who have given birth in the last two weeks, individuals who are bedridden, and others medically sensitive groups.

This life-saving exercise is conducted once annually and aligns with national public health strategies for controlling soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) – a major cause of illness and absenteeism, especially among school-aged children.

We call upon Community Health Promoters, school heads, local administrators, and the residents of Vihiga to support and cooperate with the trained teams conducting this exercise door-to-door and at designated centers.