Govt health programmes mission-oriented: Dr Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 20 2023: The second round of National Deworming Day-2023 at the state level was launched by health minister and IPR minister Dr S Ranjan Singh at the auditorium of Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) at Nityaipat Chuthek, here, on Friday.

At the launch function organised by National Health Mission, Manipur, Dr Ranjan said that different health programmes being initiated by the government are not for namesake but to keep every member of the society particularly young students fit and healthy without any disease.

Deworming tablet being given to children will help them in future and every member of the society should create awareness on importance of deworming tablet, he said and stressed the need for medical department staff to work with dedication to ensure that the benefits of government health programmes reach public.

While urging all school going children below 19 years of age to join the National Deworming Day campaign, Dr S Ranjan said taking deworming tablet will enhance health and hygiene of children.

The campaign can also be carried out in all Anganwadi centre and schools, he added.

Later, the health minister launched a poster on Deworming and strongly called for spreading message of the poster campaign to all health centres and Anganwadi centres in the state so that objective of the campaign could be fulfilled.

While informing the gathering that the first round of the state level National Deworming Day-2023 was a huge success with 94 percent coverage of beneficiaries, the health minister said that the second round of the campaign should reach grassroots level to ensure cent percent coverage.

He also said that district level Chief Medical Officers may be consulted to ensure cent percent coverage of beneficiaries.

Director (health services) Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang said that children having worm problems will not only become weak but their physical growth and mental development will also be hindered.

Understanding this problem, the Government of India launched National Deworming Day and the campaign is a huge success and it has become a role model for many foreign countries now, he said, adding that only 28 out of every 100 children were found to have worms in the month of May, 2023 and this a sign of a huge improvement.

Commissioner (health) PK Jha, who also attended the launch function, said that convergence of health, social welfare and education department is required for fulfilling the objective of National Deworming Day.

He also said that maintaining personal hygiene is necessary and relief camps should also be covered by the campaign.

Deworming tablets were given by dignitaries to school going children as a part of the programme.

Meanwhile, National Deworming Day (NDD) 2nd Round 2023 for Imphal West was launched by District Health Mission Society, at Bhairodan Maxwell High School on Friday with SDO, Lamphel Dr Imran Khan as chief guest.

Similarly, district level NDD 2nd Round 2023 was launched by District Health Society (DSH), Thoubal at Athokpam Junior High School with DSH chair man & Thoubal DC A Subhash, CMO Dr Y Nokul and School headmistress Athokpam Roma as the presidium members while NDD 2nd Round for Jiribam district was launched at Kasturba Girls' High School, Jiribam in the presence CMO Dr Th Bharat Singh, DI of schools L Roshan Meetei and School headmistress S Soroja Devi as members of the dais.

In Jiribam, around 21,850 children from 1 to 19 years are being targeted for administering Albendazole tablet during the second round of NDD to prevent transmission of STHs thereby improving nutrition level and reducing anaemia in children.

Meanwhile, DHS, Senapati organised an orientation programme on NDD for second phase at CMO conference Hall, Senapati district on Friday.

During the programme, CMO Dr Sumpi Percy, who was also the resource person of the programme, highlighted the importance of organising NDD.

She also mentioned its objectives and salient features along with throwing light on the role of line departments of Social Welfare and Education in making held visit and monitoring through the report coverage data which are to be submitted to the Department of Health and Family Welfare in standardised formats within the given timelines.

The programme was attended by DLOs, medical officers and their staff, ICDS DPO and its supervisors, school teachers and ASHA & Anganwadi workers.

Earlier, DC Mamoni Doley chaired a meeting of the district task force at DC Office, Senapati wherein decision was taken for launch of NDD 2nd Round on October 23 at Taphou, NDD Mop-up Day on October 27 and submission of report coverage data on November 10.As part of the NDD-II launch programme, Albendazole de-worming tablets were administered to students, while those who spoke at the event explained that NDD is being observed nationwide under National Health Mission to prevent infection of parasitic intestinal worms or Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STHs) in children and youth between 1 to 19 years of age.

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