National Deworming Day 2nd round kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 29 2021: Second round of the National Deworming Day 2021 was kicked off today by National Health Mission (NHM), State Mission Director Dr N Shyamjai.

Speaking to media persons at his Lamphelpat office today, Dr Shyamjai said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Deworming campaign on February 10, 2015.The campaign aimed at preventing health problems caused by the presence of worms in the intestines of persons between 1 year to 19 years is one of the largest public health programmes in the world.

Even though the first round of the National Deworming Day was supposed to be held in February this year, it was delayed till April but it could not be held in extensive manner on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Shyamjai said.

"As the positive cases and the rate of virus transmission have declined to some extent these days, we believe that the second round of the National Deworming Day could be launched and we are launching it today", he said.

Dr Shyamjai said that health problems caused by presence of worms in intestines are detected in around 22 crore persons in the age group of 1-19 across the country in a year.

These worms known as Soil Transmitted Helminths have three variants namely; Roundworm, Whipworm and Hookworm.

These worms survive in human intestines by sucking blood and nutrients, he explained.

As a result, children infected by these worms are usually weak and dull.

They also suffer malnutrition and anaemia.

According to a survey report conducted from 2015 to 2020, out of all the children of India who had dropped out from schools because of infection by intestinal worms, 25 per cent returned to schools as they had recovered and this is a remarkable achievement of the National Deworming Day, he said.

The campaign would continue for 15 days under a joint initiative of Education, Social Welfare, PHED and other concerned departments.

It is essential for all children to wash their hands before having meals and after coming out of toilets.

Food items should be kept covered, fruits should be washed thoroughly and children should wear shoes when they go out or play, Dr Shyamjai said.

To a query, the State Mission Director said that they have set a target of covering around 10 lakh children in the second round of the National Deworming Day.

Speaking at the occasion, State Nodal Officer (Child Health) Dr A Sylvia said that the main feature of the 15-days National Deworming campaign is giving Albendazole drug to children in the age group of 1-19.Albendazole is already certified by the WHO and it comes in the form of 400 mg tablets.

It has minimal side effects, she said.

Children between one year and two years would be given half of the tablet (200 mg) while those in the age group of 2-19 would be given full tablets.

The tablet can be consumed either by chewing or crushing in water, Dr Sylvia said.

Before the Covid pandemic, the tablet was given to children at Anganwadi centres and schools.

But this time, it would be distributed through ASHAs, Anganwadi workers and other frontline workers, she said.

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