National deworming programme inches closer to target of covering 24.44 crore children
Sushmi Dey | TNN | Feb 8, 2019, 22:41 ISTNEW DELHI: The coverage of the national deworming programme has increased from 8.9 crore children in 2015 to 22.7 crore till August 2018. With this the government is inching closer to its target of reaching 24.44 crore children and adolescents across the country under the programme said the health ministry on Friday on the occasion of the National Deworming Day.
The success of the programme has increased with each round with 22.69 crore children and adolescents being administered the deworming tablet to reduce the prevalence of parasitic intestinal worms, also known as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), in India so it is no longer a public health problem, the ministry said in a statement.
The National Deworming Day (NDD) is observed bi-annually on February 10 and August 10 in all states and Union territories followed by mop-up activities. This year, the programme is being conducted from February 8 and the mop-up day is February 14.
"Launched in 2015 through a single fixed day approach, the NDD programme, in this round, targets at reaching 24.44 crore children and adolescents, aged 1-19 years, across 30 states and UTs," the statement said.
According to the World Health Organisation, 64% of the Indian population, less than 14 years, are at the risk of STH infections.
The programme is implemented in collaboration with the ministries of women and child development and human resource development. The anganwadi workers and teachers administer the deworming medicine to children and adolescents at the anganwadi centres and schools.
ASHA workers support the efforts through community mobilisation and sensitisation of communities about the ill-effects of worm infestations, the statement said.
The NDD is a cost-effective programme that continues to reach crores of children and adolescents with deworming benefits through a safe medicine Albendazole, it said.
Deworming has led to reduction in absenteeism in schools, improve health, nutritional and learning outcomes for children, it added.
The NDD falls under the purview of the Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, and is also committed to improving the nutritional uptake in all children and adolescents and has immensely contributed to the cause of Anemia Mukt Bharat and Poshan Abhiyaan, under the National Nutrition Strategy, formulated by the Niti Aayog in December 2017 with a vision towards anaemia and malnutrition reduction by 2022, the statement said.
In line with the guidance from the ministry of health, comprehensive adverse vent protocols have been put in place, it said.
The success of the programme has increased with each round with 22.69 crore children and adolescents being administered the deworming tablet to reduce the prevalence of parasitic intestinal worms, also known as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), in India so it is no longer a public health problem, the ministry said in a statement.
The National Deworming Day (NDD) is observed bi-annually on February 10 and August 10 in all states and Union territories followed by mop-up activities. This year, the programme is being conducted from February 8 and the mop-up day is February 14.
"Launched in 2015 through a single fixed day approach, the NDD programme, in this round, targets at reaching 24.44 crore children and adolescents, aged 1-19 years, across 30 states and UTs," the statement said.
According to the World Health Organisation, 64% of the Indian population, less than 14 years, are at the risk of STH infections.
The programme is implemented in collaboration with the ministries of women and child development and human resource development. The anganwadi workers and teachers administer the deworming medicine to children and adolescents at the anganwadi centres and schools.
ASHA workers support the efforts through community mobilisation and sensitisation of communities about the ill-effects of worm infestations, the statement said.
The NDD is a cost-effective programme that continues to reach crores of children and adolescents with deworming benefits through a safe medicine Albendazole, it said.
Deworming has led to reduction in absenteeism in schools, improve health, nutritional and learning outcomes for children, it added.
The NDD falls under the purview of the Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, and is also committed to improving the nutritional uptake in all children and adolescents and has immensely contributed to the cause of Anemia Mukt Bharat and Poshan Abhiyaan, under the National Nutrition Strategy, formulated by the Niti Aayog in December 2017 with a vision towards anaemia and malnutrition reduction by 2022, the statement said.
In line with the guidance from the ministry of health, comprehensive adverse vent protocols have been put in place, it said.
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