Kodiabe (E/R), July 2, GNA- Worms can cause stroke when they creep into the brain, attack blood vessels thereby preventing flow of blood to parts of the body and prevent digestion when they attack the small intestines. They can also cause anaemia, severe cough, malaria and general fever, retard children's growth and reduce their intellectual capacity.

Mr Michael Coofie, a Pharmacist and representative of Tanssen-CILAG, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said these to Journalist at a medical Outreach programme at Kodiabe in the Eastern Region on Friday. It was organised by the Council 37 and Court 26 of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Tema and over 1,050 children were dewormed as part of the exercise.

Mr Coffie advised parents to deworm their children after every three months and to ensure that they do not swim in dirty water, drink untreated water to avoid being infested with worms. According to him the Tassen-CILAG, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana have over the past years been embarking on a worm eradication programme nationwide. Mr Coffie explained that the rural communities have been chosen for the programme so that the people could be educated on the essence of

deworming to the growth and development of the child. Mr Paul Agyiri, the Deputy Grand Knights of the Society, said even though the outreach programme was being organised thrice every year in Accra and Tema, it had been expanded to include communities in the rural areas. He hoped the programme would be sustained and carried out to cover the whole country in the future. The Society also donated, food items, detergents and used clothing worth over 2 million cedis to the Kodiabe Orphanage School.