Monica Nku, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Edo State, on Thursday donated 1,000 doses of Tanzol deworming tablets to the state’s Ministry of Health to help reduce worm infections among schoolchildren.
The donation, part of her Community Development Service (CDS), follows a health sensitization campaign she led at Anglican Girls Grammar School, Benin City, where she educated students on deworming and personal hygiene.
Presenting the tablets, Nku said the initiative was motivated by observations made during the outreach.
“I sensitized about 1,000 students and observed that many school-aged children suffer from worm infections without knowing it. This affects their health, growth, and learning ability. Some children feel weak, have stomach pain, lose their appetite, and perform poorly in school because of worms,” she said.
She explained that the tablets would be distributed free to children through public health facilities, including primary health centres, public hospitals, and pharmacies.
“I am donating 1,000 doses of deworming tablets for distribution to children free of charge on my behalf,” Nku said. She also linked worm infections to poor hygiene practices, such as walking barefoot and improper handwashing.
“The project is designed to protect the health of students, reduce sickness, and help them live healthy and productive lives,” she added.
Receiving the donation, Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, commended Nku for the gesture and assured that the drugs would be deployed appropriately.
“This is a commendable effort, and we assure you that the donation will be used to benefit the intended recipients,” he said.
The NYSC Local Government Inspector for Oredo, Mrs Theresa Ayanru, praised the corps member for her dedication to service beyond routine obligations.
“From the orientation camp, she already planned her personal project. She did not want to serve like everyone else; she started her own initiative from camp,” Ayanru said.
It was reported that Nku’s health-focused CDS builds on her earlier intervention during the 2025 NYSC orientation camp, where she donated 300 sanitary pads to female corps members to promote menstrual hygiene and dignity.
