By Titus Oteba/GPU
1.7 million people in Bungoma County are set to undergo deworming against intestinal worms and Bilharzia.
The National ministry of health, Bungoma County government’s department of health and sanitation have partnered with AMREF Health Africa and Evidence Action in carrying out integrated mass drug administration against intestinal worms and Bilharzia.
The deworming campaign will start on 17th to 21st July, 2025.
The deworming activity targets children aged 1 year and above for Intestinal worms while deworming for Bilharzia targets children aged 5 years and above.
For bilharzia deworming, someone must take a meal and must have height measured to determine dosage.
In Bungoma County the deworming exercise for both Intestinal and bilharzia will be conducted in 17 wards which include;
Mbakalo, Naitiri/ Kabuyefwe, Milima,
Nalondo West, Sitikho, Kimilili, Maraka, West Sang’alo, East Sang’alo, Bukembe West, Musikoma, Tuuti/Marakaru,
Khasoko, Kabula, Siboti, Kimaeti, Bumula and Kabula wards.
Then the entire 45 Wards in the County will be doing intestinal worms.
According to the County Coordinator Neglected Tropical Diseases Robert Wetoto, the deworming exercise will be conducted in schools and the community (Households and static places like markets, churches, offices and social gatherings like funerals).
“We have trained over 3,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who will play an integral part in the deworming exercise, already the drugs and procurables have been distributed and delivered to sub counties in readiness for the kick-off,” he said.
He called upon the public to take this activity very seriously to help prevent the effects of bilharzia and intestinal worms which is a public health problem.
He advised the public to take up preventive measures like hand washing before a meal and after visiting a toilet, always use a toilet and not a bush for biological functions and also always drink safe water.
Additionally for the case of bilharzia people should not swim or bathe in rivers and water ponds and dams.
He assured the public that the drugs namely Albendazole, Mebendazole, and Praziquantel are safe and this is the activity the ministry has been doing in Bungoma since 2021 and this is the fifth round of the deworming activity and has always proven worm reduction.
