ADVERT 
Siaya County has joined the rest of Kenya in marking the National School-Based Deworming Day, with health officials rolling out a countywide campaign to protect thousands of school-going children from intestinal worm infections that threaten their health, growth, and learning.
The exercise, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Ministry of Education and supported by Evidence Action, is being conducted in both public and private schools across Siaya. The programme targets children aged 2 to 15 years, providing them with safe, effective, and free deworming medication.
Health experts say intestinal worm infections remain one of the leading public health challenges affecting school-age children, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. Left untreated, the infections can cause malnutrition, anaemia, stunted growth, fatigue, poor concentration, and reduced academic performance.
Speaking during the launch, Caroline Odhiambo, the County WASH Coordinator (CWASH), described deworming as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for safeguarding children’s wellbeing.
ADVERTShe urged families and communities to complement the exercise with proper hygiene practices, including regular handwashing with soap, consistent use of clean toilets, wearing shoes where appropriate, and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before consumption to prevent reinfection.
Dr. Kennedy Oruenjo, the County Director of Public Health and Sanitation, reaffirmed Siaya County’s commitment to ensuring every eligible child benefits from the programme through close collaboration with schools, teachers, Community Health Promoters, and development partners.
He noted that integrating routine deworming with health education, improved sanitation, and better hygiene practices will significantly reduce the burden of intestinal worm infections while nurturing healthier, stronger, and more productive learners.
County health officials have also appealed to parents and guardians to fully support the exercise by allowing their children to participate, emphasizing that the initiative plays a critical role in improving children’s overall health and educational outcomes.
As the National School-Based Deworming Programme continues across Siaya, authorities remain optimistic that sustained community participation will help eliminate preventable worm infections and create a healthier future where every child can grow, learn, and thrive.
