2.41 crore children to be given deworming tablets on Feb 8
Around 2.41 crore children aged one to 19 years at all government, private schools and anganbari centres will be administered albendazole tablets free of cost under National Deworming campaign on February 8.
Health Minister Kali Charan Saraf has appealed all government and private schools and anganwari centres to administer albendazole tablets on February 8 to children aged 1 to 19 years. He said directed chief medical and health officer of all districts to ensure availability of medicine at all schools and anganwari centres. He said those children aged one to 19 years who do not go school will be brought to anganwari centres by accredited social health activists (ASHAs) to administer deworming tablets on National Deworming Day. He said those children who remain absent or do not come schools for any reason will be administered deworming tablets on February 16 on Mop Up day.
Health secretary Naveen Jain informed that help of education department, woman and child development department (integrated child development scheme), UNICEF and Evidence Action will be taken. He said more than 1.05 lakh teachers and 58700 anganwari workers have been trained to administer the tablets. He said in February 2017, total 1.86 crore children were dewormed.
Jain through video conferencing with all district reproductive
JAIPUR:
and child health officers, block chief medical officer, woman and child development, education department and representatives of other helping institutions have been given necessary directions along with preparations were reviewed.
Project director child health Dr Rommel Singh said as per the estimate of World Health Organisation (WHO), in India around 22 crore children in the age group of 1 to 14 years are at the risk of worm infection. Due to worm infection, children face problems such as malnutrition and development is affected. It also affects the mental and physical development due to which in future, their working capacity and average income is reduced, he added.