GHS and GES begin week long de-worming exercise in public schools 

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) begins a de-worming exercise for children in all public basic schools today.

The exercise which is expected to last for one week with the possibility of an extension is aimed at reducing the prevalence of NTD's in Ghana by 2020.

More than five million children in 201 districts across the country  will be covered. 

At a media briefing in Accra, the Deputy Programmes Manager for NTD'S at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Kofi Marfo said the disease affects about seven million people yearly in Ghana. 

This he said is unacceptable and called for a change in attitude especially with open defecation.

It came up that private schools do not actively take part in the exercise.

The Programmes Officer School Health education Programme GES, Dorcas Hushi thus appealed to heads of private schools to cooperate with stakeholders to enable more children to benefit from the exercise.

GBC