The Health Minister of Uttarakhand, Surendra Singh Negi administered ‘Albendazol’ tablets to school children at Government Primary School, Rajiv Nagar to kickstart National Deworming day on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion he said that the State Government is committed to bringing qualitative improvement in the health of children. Explaining the importance of deworming to the children, the minister said the worms cause many health problems and by eating the tablet of Albendazol these worms can be killed.
He said that the State Government has taken a target of administering the anti helminthic drug to all the children aged between 1 and 19 years in the state. Negi said that a healthy and fertile mind resides only in a healthy body and the parents of children should pay special attention in this regard. He added that healthy and strong children are an asset for the nation. Negi regretted the fact that less parents attended the programe despite being invited by the schools.
The Director General (DG), health services, Dr Kusum Narriyal said that the massive drive to administer the drug Albendazol is being taken across the state with the help of teachers, health department employees, ASHA workers, ANMs and Anganwadi workers. She said that children between the ages I – 2 years would be given half tablet while children between age 2 to 19 would be administered one tablet of 400 milligrams. She said that Albendazole is a safe drug which helps in effective deworming however the department has deployed nodal officers in each district to react instantaneously on any complaint of side effect. Dr Narriyal added that the left out children would be given medicine on a mop up day which is scheduled on February 15.
The programe was attended by Raipur MlA and Parliamentary Secretary Umesh Sharma ‘ Kau’ Principal Secretary health Om Prakash and large number of officials of health and education department.