Airtel, GlaxoSmithKline partner in health awareness campaign

The campaign, designed to promote good hygiene and sanitation, highlighted common health issues and preventative measures, in addition to the deworming and screening of pupils and staff at Oremeji Primary School in the Ajegunle district.

The programme also featured general health checks, including eye screening, cardiovascular checks and growth and weight check on both teachers and the pupils.

Speaking on the initiative, the CEO and MD of Airtel Nigeria, Rajan Swaroop, said the activity is part of the company's roadmap for uplifting underprivileged children in Nigeria through its programme, Adopt-a-School Initiative which compliments the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals of providing access to universal primary education to every child.

Enhancing the well-being of pupils and staff

Swaroop said, "We are happy to partner GlaxoSmithKline in this laudable project that will further enhance the total well-being of the pupils and teachers of Oremeji Primary School. The importance of deworming is underscored by the fact that worms infect more than one third of the world's population, with the most intense infections in children and people with low income generally. It is a known scientific fact that deworming contributes to good health and nutrition for children of school age, which in turn leads to increased enrolment and attendance, reduced class repetition, and increased educational attainment. Therefore, healthy children are the substratum of a healthy society."

The teachers and pupils of the school expressed joy at the opportunity provided them by Airtel and its partners to get medical support and learn how to stay healthy.