Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has announced that the Nitbusters programme which gives families in low decile schools free head lice treatment, will continue next year.
KidsCan will receive a total of $1.1 million to deliver the programme to 111 schools and 24,000 children throughout New Zealand.
Mrs Tolley says, “Through Nitbusters we are supporting families who need help in dealing with the costs involved, by providing free treatments for as long as is required to stamp out the problem.
“The Government first began funding Nitbusters in 2014, and on average 1,400 children are checked each week for head lice."
In November 2014, 43 percent of children whose heads were checked for head lice needed treatment. By July 2015 there had been a 16 percent reduction in the number of children needing treatment.
“I’m also advised that schools are reporting increased attendance, as fewer children are having to stay at home or be sent home due to head lice," Tolley adds.
The $1.1million for Nitbusters next year will be delivered through an under-spend in the Kickstart Breakfast Programme.
Since the Kickstart initiation kicked off in 2013, around 5.5 million breakfasts have been served. A total of 841 schools are currently involved, and breakfasts are served to around 27,000 children.