Mokokchung: Students taking the albendazole tablet during the National Deworming Day programme in Mokokchung district on February 10. (Photo Courtesy: CMO Mokokchung)
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Wokha, February 10 (MExN): National Deworming Day is observed every year on February 10 to ensure that every child in India is worm free. All government and government-aided schools as well as Anganwadi centres (AWCs) participate in the deworming programme and raise awareness on providing the kids with a deworming medicine called albendazole tablets.
Accordingly, district establishments under the State Department of Health and Family Welfare in Nagaland conducted programmes to mark the day.
In Wokha, the District Health Society Wokha observed the day at Euro Kids International Pre School, Blue Hill colony Wokha on February 10, with Dr Lirenthung Khuvung, Medical Officer, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram Wokha, as the resource person.
A press release from the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) Office Wokha stated that Dr Khuvung explained the various symptoms of worm infestation and its negative impact on the overall growth and development of a child. The direct benefits of taking deworming tablets are reduction in anaemia cases and improvement in nutritional health, he said.
Dr Lirenthung also emphasised on the indirect benefits such as improvement of immune system and concentration, overall physical growth and mental development. Avoiding open defecation, washing food items before consumption, following hand hygiene and keeping our surrounding clean can reduce the chances of worm infestation, he added.
Chumchano Kikon, Proprietor, Euro Kids International Pre School thanked the health workers for the taking the initiative to sensitised the beneficiaries on deworming. The children were administered albendazole tablets by the health workers and anganwadi workers.
Similarly, in Phek district, District Programme Officer (RCH/UIP) Dr K Pewezo Khalo stated that children below the ages of 1 to 19 years would be dewormed by administering one albendazole tablet each in schools and AWCs throughout the district. In this connection, he appealed to all the parents, health workers, and teachers to facilitate the children and receive the medicine. He also appealed to the Social Welfare/ICDS and School Education departments to observe the day by administering the medicine to all the beneficiaries in order to improve their overall health.
A press release from the office of the Mokokchung CMO informed that National Deworming Day was observed in schools, AWCs and health facilities across the district.
The launching programme was held at Hill View Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung, during which Dr Imsongienla, MO (Ayush) gave a health talk on the effects of parasitic worms on health, the importance of hygiene and its treatment.
Addressing the students and teachers, she stated that the objective of the day is to deworm children and adolescents to reduce the prevalence of parasitic worms in the intestine. She also demonstrated hand hygiene steps to the students.
Concluding the programme, RBSK team along with staff from the office of the Mokokchung CMO took part in administering the dose of Albendazole tablet to the children.
Meanwhile, Mon Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma launched the National Deworming Day at Konjong Higher Secondary School, highlighting the significance of the day and the importance of children. He encouraged the children to maintain personal hygiene, and a clean environment that is free from germs, according to a DIPR report received here.
CMO, Mon Dr Vezokholu Theyo said National Deworming Day is an initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to make every child worm free in the country. CMO also said that NDD is to de-worm all preschool and school-age children between the age of 1 to 19 years through the platform of schools and Anganwadi centers in order to improve their overall health, nutritional status, access to education, and quality of life, the DIPR report stated.
