The presence of parasitic intestinal worms in children causes a lot of discomfort and could ultimately affect their growth and learning in school.

Stomach pains, nausea and restlessness are common symptoms of stomach or intestinal worms in children. The World Health Organization in 2017 recommended large-scale deworming to improve children’s health and nutrition.

International Needs Ghana [INGH)] a Christian Non-Governmental Organization has therefore dewormed about 200 school children at Abolato D/A Basic School at Zuarungu-Nyokoko in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region.

The beneficiaries were grade 1-6 learners.

Dubbed; Deworming for Wellness, INGH collaborated with the Ghana Education Service [GES] and the District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to carry out the exercise.

The deworming exercise was intended to contribute to the health and physical development of the learners.

Prior to the exercise, the pupils were taken through practical ways of taking care of their bodies and oral hygiene.

Facilitators from the health directorate also emphasized basic hand washing techniques in school and at home.

Programme Officer for International Needs Ghana, Benjamin Awah who spoke to JoyNews, during the exercise, said the health and physical development of children was key to the realization of improved learning outcomes and therefore the need for the exercise.

He also indicated that the deworming exercise was key to reducing the negative impact of worms on the children.

“When children are dewormed, it contributes to improve their attendance at school and their active participation in class activities”, he said.

According to Mr. Awah, through International Needs Ghana’s Child Assistance Programme, 100 learners from the Abolato School and over 2000 participants in 10 other schools are assisted annually in four outcome areas – Education, Health and Physical Development, Life Skills and Social Development as well as Spiritual Development, to contribute to their holistic growth.

He said INGH has been working with the Nyokoko community for 20 years; implementing various interventions to see transformed lives and a changed community.

In 2021, International Needs Ghana contributed to improving teaching and learning by supporting the school with relevant educational materials as well as furniture for the KG, lower and upper primary levels.

A year on, the Headmistress of the school, Charity Apasinaba says the support provided by International Needs Ghana to the school has contributed to improved enrolment and the pupils’ participation in class activities especially at the KG level.