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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 10 (EMN): National Deworming Day in Kohima district was launched by Atoshe Sema, state programme officer of the Reproductive and Child Health unit of the department of Health and Family Welfare on Monday morning at the Baptist High School.
Deworming is an essential measure to control or treat against worm infections in children. The drive targets the population of the age group of 1-19 years old.
More than a thousand chewable Albendazole tablets were distributed to the school which has a total strength of students numbering almost 2,000.
A short programme was organised in the auditorium of Baptist High during which Sema highlighted the importance of National Deworming Day which aims to eradicate intestinal worms aka soil transmitted helminths or STH.
The officer informed that the department will be carrying out two rounds of deworming drives annually on February 10 and August 10 as part of the programme.
He apprised the students that a mop-up day will be conducted on the 17th of this month in the event those children who missed taking the tablet on Monday.
As part of methods to prevent infections, a proper hand-washing technique was demonstrated by Dr. Medozhatuo Keretsü, a health officer.
Officials from the department of Social Welfare also participated in the programme. Not only schools but Anganwadi centres of the Social Welfare department are also covered by the programme activity.
Wokha
Elsewhere, another press release informed that the first phase of the National Deworming Day was observed on February 10 in Wokha district.
According to updates, a health officer Dr. Kuokholie Savino, educated the students of Isaiah Ability School in Wokha on the importance of deworming. He said that intestinal worms or soil transmitted helminthes are the most common infections leading to anaemia, malnutrition, impaired mental, physical and cognitive development.
Savino encouraged the students to practice personal hygiene and to take the Albendazole tablets for prevention of intestinal worms.
A mop-up phase will be conducted on February 17, the updates stated. Albendazole tablets were distributed to children in schools and Angawadi centres across the district, the note stated.