Worms in stomach hinder children’s natural growth. National De-Worming Day for destroying worms will be observed in the State on Tuesday. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, de-worming medicines will be administered to children in 12 States including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
Destruction of worms helps in better health and thus increases concentration in children. This is a WHO-recommended strategy. Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Narottam Mishra will launch the process to administer de-worming medicines to children at Government Kamla Nehru Hospital (Near Kali Bari TT Nagar) here on February 10 at 10 am.
Worms develop in children’s stomachs by infection, lack of personal hygiene and eating infected or polluted soil. Worms in stomach create a number of health problems disturbing children’s growth and education. Their nutrition and haemoglobin are also affected. Keeping this in view, it has been decided to administer de-worming medicines to children throughout the State on National De-Worming Day on February 10.
Children will be de-wormed in Government/aided schools, tribal hostels and ashram shalas. Albendazol tablet for de-worming will be administered to about 98 lakh 58 thousand children of 5 to 19 years in 80 thousand 113 primary and 70 thousand 669 middle and higher secondary schools and about 80 thousand anganwadis.
Necessary preparations have been made for the campaign. De-worming medicines have been made available upto development block level. Apart from Health Department, School Education, Tribal Welfare and Integrated Child Development Services departments are also co-ordinating in the campaign. Studies have revealed that de-worming in children decreases their absence in schools by 25 per cent and helps them concentrate on studies. It improves nutrition level, prevents lack of iron in body, mental development and improves attendance in schools.