Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug 10 (EMN): During the first phase of National Deworming Day (NDD) in March 2017, the state has achieved 94.9% by administering 6,76,691 albendazole tablets to the age group of 1-19 years. The figure shows an increase as compared to 2016 with 88.8% in February and 90.1% in August.
This was informed at the launching programme of the second phase of State level National Deworming Day (NDD) at Christ King Higher Secondary School, P Khel, in Kohima village this morning.
The programme was organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare where Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Limaakum Jamir launched the programme by administering a deworming tablet to a student.
In his keynote address, Director (FW) in-charge, Dr. MA Wati said the goal and objective of NDD is to deworm all pre-school and school age children both enrolled and non-enrolled between the ages of 1-19 years.
Deworming tablets, he said, will be administered through the platform of government aided schools, private schools and anganwadi centres in order to improve their overall health, nutritional status, access to education and quality of life.
He informed that the programme will be carried out in convergence with three departments namely Health and Family Welfare, Department of School and Women and Child Development (ICDS). For this, he said, the contributions of the health workers, school teachers and anganwadi workers with supervisors are vital for the success of the mission.
Noting that reaching out to private schools has become a challenge from the previous rounds in the country, Dr. Wati said the joint secretary of RCH, MoHFW, New Delhi, has stressed on coverage of private schools along with the rest of children as the worm infection cannot be reduced in the community without universal coverage of all children.
WHO recommended 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 also aims to cover atleast 90% of all children through NDD programme as study has revealed that 65% of children in India between 1-14 years are at risk of worm infestation.
Dr. Wati said worm infection in children leads to anemia, weakness, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, stomach-ache, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss etc, adding one tablet of albendazole (safe and proven) can avoid all these and indirectly helps children in improving concentration and learning capacity, thereby improving their livelihood opportunity along with good health.
He further informed that a mop up will be organised on August 17 for those children who missed out today and stressed on the need for community level mobilisation and awareness involving ASHAs, AWWs and PRI workers for achieving high coverage.
