Survey to detect parasitic infection in children begins in govt schools

SOIL-TRANSMITTED HELMINTHS LEAD TO PARASITIC INFECTION IN CHILDRE

LUCKNOW : A survey team headed by experts from Chandigarh-based National Institute of Epidemiology of ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) is conducting a survey of soiltransmitted helminths prevalence among children studying in government primary and upper primary schools in the state.

Soil-transmitted helminths lead to parasitic infection in children that hinders nutritional and physical development in young children, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

In a letter, a copy of which is with HT, sent to basic shiksha adhikari of over 30 districts of the state, including capital Lucknow, director, basic education, Shubha Singh, Uttar Pradesh, has directed them to provide necessary support to the concerned team.

The concerned block education officers of the district have also been asked to be intimated about the same. Under the survey, stool samples of school going children are being collected and their microscopic examination is being done in temporary microscopic centres set up at the nearest health facility (community/ primary health centre), according to the letter.

The survey, which started from November 21, will continue till December 18. The survey is being conducted in schools of Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Amroha, Kannauj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Kushinagar, Lucknow, Mahoba, Mainpuri, Mathura, Mau, Meerut, Mirzapur, Pilibhit, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Siddharthnagar and Sonbhadra , the letter read..