Kohima, August 6 (MExN): Nagaland along with the rest of the country will launch the 2nd phase of National De-worming Day (NDD) on August 9 with an aim to improve the overall health, nutritional status, access to education, and quality of life of children. The same will be launched at Ruzhukhrie Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kohima at 8:45 am.
The observance will focus on de-worming of children in the age group of 1-19 years on August 10, which will be followed by a mop-up day (MUD) on August 17 wherein children who missed the dose on August 10 will be de-wormed, informed a press release from Dr. Yankho Lotha, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Nagaland.
The Department of Health & Family Welfare in co-ordination with the Department of School Education and Social Welfare will roll out the NDD in all schools, both Government and Private, and Anganwadi centres in the State.
NDD, an initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI, is a fixed day approach when all children between 1-19 years of age will be targeted to receive treatment for parasite intestinal worms through the platform of school and anganwadi centers.
During the first NDD on February 10, 2016 only students in Government or Government aided schools were covered but this time all private schools are also included, the release said. Last year, a total of 5,48,249 children were covered under the programme in the state. This year, the department targets to cover a total of 8,50,000 children in the age group of 1-19 years during the NDD and MUD.
The World Health Organisation recommends de-worming of all school age and pre-school age children, with a global target 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 De-worming Day programme, the release added.
Dimapur district to observe NDD on August 10
Dimapur, August 6 (MExN): In view of the upcoming National De-worming Day, Dimapur District Level Committee held a meeting on August 5 at DC’s conference hall. Dimapur district will also observe the National De-worming Day on August 10. The day is observed with an aim to de-worm all children from 1 to 19 years who are at risk of parasitic intestinal worm infections known as Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH).
Dr. Lanuakum, DPO (RCH/UIP) oriented the members on the initiative of the GoI, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to de-worm all children aged 1 to 19 years. National De-worming Day (NDD) is a mass de-worming of children on a fixed day approach by giving Albendazole tablet all over the country on August 10 and a Mop-up Day to be followed on August 17 to those children who were missed on NDD. He also informed that worms cause anemia, nutritional impairment, thereby impairing mental and physical development.
Dr. Lanuakum appreciated the Administration, the Social Welfare Department and the Education Department for their co-operation and support during the previous round and requested to further continue their support in the upcoming NDD.
The meeting was chaired by Moa Sangtam, SDO (C) Sadar, who urged the stakeholders to continue their support and co-ordinate with the Health Department for successful implementation of the de-worming activity.
The meeting was attended by various stakeholders such as District Education Officer, EBRC Block Co-Ordinators, CDPOs, Supervisors (ICDS), and staff under CMO Dimapur.
