As part of their school outreach, a team from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is conducting a major deworming campaign among Early Childhood Education (ECE) to Year 8 across schools in the southern Lau group.
The Ministry says deworming involves administering a safe, single-dose tablet that removes parasitic worms (such as roundworms and hookworms) living in the human intestine.
They say these worms are common in tropical environments and often spread through contaminated soil, unclean water, or improper hand hygiene.
Lakeba Subdivisional Hospital’s Charge Livinai Namami says many infected children show no early symptoms, yet worms silently consume essential nutrients meant for growth.
Namami says that over time, infection can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, stomach pain, and poor concentration.
She says for students, even mild worm loads can mean fatigue, absenteeism, and falling behind in class.
The Ministry says that by deworming all children from Early Childhood Eduaction through Year 8—ages when physical and cognitive development are most critical—schools create a healthier learning environment.
They say the need is urgent in the southern Lau group, where remote communities may have limited access to clean water or routine health services.
The Ministry says that without periodic treatment, reinfection is common, and they recommend deworming twice a year as a low-cost, high-impact solution.
They reassure parents that the medicine is safe, free, and given under trained supervision adding that a child free of worms is a child ready to learn, play, and grow.
