In a bid to save children between one to 19 years of age from worm and malnutrition National Health Mission will begin 7th phase of National Deworming Day from February 8 in the State.
Addressing a press meet on Wednesday the Mission Director, NHM, Kripa Nand Jha, informed that in order to deal with the risk of worm infection in children of Jharkhand, the National Deworming Day will be observed on February 8 in the State. “Under this programme, children and adolescents from 1 to 19 years of age in all schools of Jharkhand and Anganwadi centers will be made free from worms by administering medicine called Albendazole. On the other hand, due to absence or illness, children who are unable to get worm-control medicines on Deworming Day will get it on 14th of February during mop-up exercise.”
Speaking on the occasion Jha said that worm transition in India is emerging as a common problem. “According to World Health Organization more than 22 million children are worm inflicted under the age of 5 in the country for 14 years. “National Deworming Day aims to make worm free for improvement in children and young people’s health, nutritional status and cognitive development and quality of life. Worm transition does not appear directly, but it also negatively impacts the health of children and their homogenous development. Albendazole is one of the best medicines for prevention and control of this negative impact,” he added. Jha also appealed to the media to propagate the awareness about the programme so that no child could be left.
Informing the objective of the programme the Mission Director said, in February 2019, as many as 1,42,17,169 children have been targeted to get rid of worms.
“Including 25,08,154 children from private schools. Keeping in view the danger of public health of intestinal infections in children and youth of 1 to 19 years, drug delivery will be provided in various government and private schools of the State, at Anganwadi centers, in inter-colleges, in technical colleges.
On the occasion IPRD, Director, Ram Lakhan Prasad Gupta and Ranchi Civil Surgeon, BV Khalko were also present.