Deworm drive: Government targets 1.37 crore children in State

BHUBANESWAR: After the success of Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign, the State Government is all set to go for deworming of nearly 1.37 crore children, aged between one and 19 on the National Deworming Day (NDD), Wednesday. The bi-annual campaign considered to be one of the world’s largest public health programmes to protect children from intestinal parasitic worms that can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, impaired mental, physical ad cognitive development will be conducted across all Anganwadi centres and schools in the State.

In-charge Director (Family Welfare) Dr Kamala Kanta Das said 30 districts of the State have been divided into two categories for the deworming drug campaign. While Ang u l , Deogarh , Ganjam , Jagatsinghpur, Jhasuguda and Nayagarh districts have been included in the mass drug administration (MDA) programme along with NDD, he said, only deworming campaign will be carried out in the rest 24 districts. “Kids between one and two years will be administered Albendazole suspension and those from 2 years to 19 years will have Albendazole tablets in the six districts on April 4, 5 and 6. The dose is slightly different for other districts where children of one to five years will have Albendazole suspension and 6 to 19 years will be given tablets on April 4 and during mop-up round on April 11,” he said.

The State Government has combined the NDD rounds with Vitamin A supplementation for all children from 9 months to 5 years. This year’s round is also combined with combating Lymphatic Filariasis in the six districts of high prevalence. Anganwadi workers will make door-to-door visits for the MDA campaign. As a strategy, teachers and Anganwadi workers are trained by the Government and the deworming drug has already been provided to them to administer to children at school and anganwadi centres. Children between six to 19 years will be administered with Albendazole tablet at Government, aided and private schools by the teachers while the out of school children will be administered with the tablet at Anganwadi centres by their workers.

This time the health authorities have roped in malaria control programme volunteers in the Lymphatic Filariasis prevalent districts where door-to-door visits will be undertaken to ensure that no child is left out. “This strategy will help us in not just improving nutrition of children by combating worm infestation transmitted through soil, but also elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, infestation acquired during childhood but manifested in adults that can cause temporary or permanent disability,” Dr Das added.