Mission Director, NHM Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru addressing the launching of the 1st Phase of National Deworming Day held at Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Kohima on February 8. (DIPR Photo)
State level programme of National Deworming Day launched
Kohima, February 8 (MExN): With the initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, a State level programme of National Deworming Day (NDD) was launched at Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Midland Kohima under the aegis of Health & Family Welfare Department, Nagaland on February 8.
According to a DIPR report, the Programme Officer (RMNCH+A), Dr. Atoshe Sema in his keynote address said that National Deworming Day is a fixed day approach when all children between 1-19 years of age will be targeted to receive treatment for parasitic intestinal worms STH (Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis) through the platform of schools and anganwadi centers.
He said that this programme will be carried out in coordination amongst three departments in convergence namely; Health and Family Welfare, Department of School Education, and Women and Child Development (ICDS). With the target of 6,36,161 in August 2018, the state could deworm 5,97,739 children across the 11 districts with an achievement rate of 93.96%. This February 2019 round state target is the same as August 2018 i.e. 6,36,161 children.
He said The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends “deworming of all school age and pre-school age children”, with the global target aiming to eliminate morbidity due to worms (soil-transmitted helminths) in children by 2020. The Government of India aims to cover at least 90% of all children through the National Deworming Day program. WHO further says that 65% of children in India between 1-14 years are at risk of worm infestation. Worm infection in children leads to anemia, weakness, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss etc. A simple intervention in the form of one tablet of albendazole (safe and proven) avoids all these and indirectly helps children in improving concentration and learning capacity thereby improving their livelihood opportunity along with good health.
Community/Village level mobilization and awareness on de- worming needs to be carried out involving the ASHAs, AWWs and PRI workers as these effort are crucial for achieving high coverage and also requested all the concerned departments and the media to create awareness and successfully carry out the Mass De-worming Programme and in addition a mop up day for those children missed out on the deworming day through all schools and Anganwadi centers to continue on 14th February 2019, he added.
Later in the programme, Mission Director, NHM Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru launched the 1st Phase of NDD.
