Kenyan Government to deworm 4 million children this week.

By Samuel Ouma

The government of Kenya has rolled out a deworming campaign targeting four million children aged 2-14 years in 14 counties.

The three-day event, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and Health, runs from today to Thursday, September 16, 2021.

According to the Ministry of Education, Worm infections, if left untreated, interfere with nutrient intake and can lead to anemia, malnourishment, and impaired mental and physical development.

In March 2021, the National School-Based Deworming Program (NSBD) dewormed 2.6 million across seven counties in Western Kenya.

NSBD every year treats at least 6 million children within the 2-14 age bracket in areas at risk of worm infection.

A study conducted by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in 2012 and 2018 showed that the program had been highly effective in reducing worm infections, with the prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) decreasing by 62 percent among children sampled.

The 14 counties are Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya, Busia, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Narok.