Children from Coast Province are set to get free deworming drugs as part of a plan by the Government to implement a comprehensive school health program in the next two years.

Division of Child and Adolescent Health head Dr Stewart Kabaka told the Nation that initial surveys in Kwale, Kinango, Msambweni, Malindi and Kilifi indicate that up to 80 per cent of pupils in primary schools are infested with worms.

Previous studies in Bondo and Mbeere districts also showed a high incidence of worm infestation and this, he said had prompted the department to start the program.

Dr Kabaka said the deworming, which will be done in collaboration with the Education ministry, will start this month as their aim is to finish it before the end of the term without interfering with end of year examinations.

Training for the district and divisional health officers on how to implement the program is set to begin Friday.

He said a lack of data on the rate of worm infestation had prevented the initial roll out and baseline surveys would be conducted in each province before the deworming begins.

"The only issue with the baseline surveys is that they are very expensive to carry out but we have the support of donors who are willing to fund them," he added.

North Eastern province is next on the ministry's program with the drugs coming from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency.

Dr Kabaka said the agency had confirmed at a meeting held on Tuesday that it has an adequate amount of drugs to cater for the programs since all kits supplied to public hospitals contain dewormers.

A report by a task-force investigating the agency's operations will be presented to Medical Services minister Prof Anyang' Nyong'o this month.

He said infestation with worms contributes to ill health as it is a main cause of anaemia which makes one vulnerable to disease and also causes loss of concentration in school-going children.

The children will also be given Vitamin A supplements with the ministry also collaborating with religious leaders and nursery schools in order to access those children who have not joined primary school.

Statistics by the Public Health and Sanitation ministry indicate that 76 per cent of pre-school children suffer from Vitamin A deficiency.

The vitamin prevents night blindness and other eye problems and enhances immunity and protects against colds, influenza and infections.