Tejiri Ebikeme
The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture on today flagged off its mass de-worming program for children in Delta State targeted at over 80,000 under-12 school children with a ceremony that took place at State School Cavegina Primary School Warri.
First lady of the State, Mrs. Roli Sheila Uduaghan, used the occasion to commend the company for its strong commitment to the development of the health sector in Delta State especially through the mass de-worming program for school children.
Mrs. Uduaghan, who was represented by her special assistant Mrs. Christine Emetulu, noted that the program was in line with the health programs of the state government which put priority on child/maternal health, preventive health and public enlightenment on prevalent killer diseases.
She also thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint venture for its commitment to other education and health programs in the State particular the River Boat clinic, which is adding tremendous values to preventive healthcare in the communities.
Earlier in his remarks, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, (PGPA) Mr. Deji Haastrup noted that the mass de-worming exercise was part of the health intervention programs for our community stakeholders aimed at ridding children between the ages 6 and 12 years of worms.
Represented by Mr. Trust Inimgba, Superintendent, PGPA Warri, he noted that worm infestation is a leading cause of ill-health and mortality in school-age children mostly in developing societies and that statistics indicates that hookworm is a leading cause of anemia and protein malnutrition, afflicting an estimated 740 million people in the developing nations of the tropics.
According to him, the company’s health intervention programs in Delta State also include the Roll Back Malaria, donation of essential drugs to some hospitals, donation of an ambulance to the State government to assist in the fight against Ebola virus and the ongoing development of four (4) cottage hospitals in some communities through Regional Development Committees (RDCs), under the company’s Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) with the relevant communities.
He also informed that the River boat clinic initiated by the company in 2001, has helped thousands of patients in Delta communities who receive treatment for various illnesses including children less than five years who were immunized against killer diseases.
Other State government representatives that applauded the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture at the occasion include Dr. Mike Emeshili, representing the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muobaghare; and the Chief Medical Director, Warri Central Hospital, Dr. Kinsley Agholor, who represented the State’s commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara.
In their vote of thanks, the Head teacher, Cavegina primary school, Mrs. Elizabeth Balogun and the Immunization officer, Warri South Local Government Mrs. Mary Fregene appreciated the gesture by NNPC/Chevron and its partners in helping to rid children of worms and save their lives.
