Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and Divine Shakti Foundation (DSF) organised a health camp in Mayakund slum where Vitamin A drops and Albendazole de-worming pills were given to the children under five-years of age. The camp was held in collaboration with Seva Child International and Rural Development Institute (RDI), Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust.
According to internationally recognised guidelines, each child between 6-11 months of age needs one dose of 100,000 IU (International Units) vitamin A annually and each child of 12-59 months of age needs two doses of 200,000 IU of vitamin A annually.
Notably Vitamin A supplements make immune systems stronger, helping to maintain good eyesight and fight off life-threatening diseases for children who lack access to foods with vitamin A. When children do not have this nutrient during the early stages of growth, they can fall ill, remain underdeveloped, go blind and even die.
Parasitic intestinal worms in children not only causes pain, uneasiness, and poor health but also leads to malnutrition. Children infected by worms are at risk of malnutrition, even though symptoms are not always obvious. Regular de-worming allows children to absorb the important nutrients needed for good health. long-term solutions to the spread of intestinal worms also include better sanitation and hygiene, for which public awareness and education are important.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan and co-founder and chair of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), said: “Our children being our future, they deserve a strong start in life that is free from disease and malnutrition. We must work together to ensure that every child in our country and across the world has access to safe, life-giving water, sanitation and hygiene, along with timely and effective medical aid for both prevention and cure of diseases. We need to build a hygienic, healthy, harmonious and happy society. For this, each one present here must take a pledge to serve and help in whatever way they can.”
The Speaker of the Assembly, Prem Chandra Agrawal said Vitamin A and de-worming tablets, given to at-risk children under the age of 5 years fight immediate risks of illness or death faced by those lacking regular access to healthy food.
Chairman of the Rishikesh municipal corporation, Deep Sharma announced that 15,000 dustbins would be installed by the civic body along the ghats in Rishikesh.