Shop N Save Supermarket, one of the leading supermarket companies in Ghana has organised a mass community-based de-worming exercise for children from age two to 15 years in Madina, Accra.

The one-day exercise, dubbed "Wormfree Child Project", targeted 5,000 children within the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly.

It was organised by Shop N Save Supermarket in collaboration with Verna Natural Mineral Water, Cradle to Crayon Show of Sunny FM, Ernest Chemists, Bolero, Rafimex, Yum-mie Noodles, Comprehensive Mothercare, Rasmed, Ramani and Gold Coast Matcom.

Medical doctors and nurses, who undertook the exercise, were drawn from the University of Ghana Hospital, Legon, the 37 Military Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The "Wormfree Child Project", aside the de-worming, provided malaria treatment for the children.

In addition, each child was given a pair of shoes, toys, clothing, Yum-mie noodles, soft drinks and mineral water.

Mr Michael Edward Chambers, the Managing Director, Shop N Save Supermarket, said the "Wormfree Child Project" was a laudable project the company had embarked on as part of its corporate social responsibility.

He said regular de-worming treatment could reduce absenteeism among school children and contribute to enhance their academic performance.

Mrs Margaret Titus-Glover, the Human Resource Manager, Shop N Save, said de-worming would help improve the health and education of school children.

She said worm infections were chronic among children, who by their tender nature love playing in the sand; explaining that the infections harm children’s health and development by limiting their participation in school.

She recounted that the first edition of the "Wormfree Child Project" was held in August 2016 at the Bukom Square in Accra and announced that the third edition would be held at Korle Gonno, Accra.

Mrs Abigail Kontoh, host of Sunny FM's Cradle to Crayon Show, and Chief Executive Officer of Cradle to Crayon Services urged expectant mothers to be mindful of their health their activity or inactivity could affect the yet to be born children.

She advised parents to de-worm their children regularly to help improve their health and academic performance.

Mrs Veronica Ayaleba, a mother of three, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed gratitude to Shop N Save Supermarket for the kind gesture.

"We thank Shop N Save Supermarket for blessing us with good things today," seven year-old, Master Michael Etornam said.

Shop N Save Supermarket, a community-based supermarket has four branches in the country; sited at Apremedo in Takoradi, Adenta, Adjiringanor and along the Spintex Road towards Sakumono all in Accra.