Deworming Day: Over six lakh children to be covered in Nagaland

Students are given tablet during the Nagaland State National Deworming Day launching programme at Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima on February 10. (Photo Courtesy: CMO Kohima)

Kohima, February 10 (MExN): The Nagaland State National Deworming Day (NDD) launching programme was held at Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima on February 10.

 
Official launching the Nagaland State National Deworming Day, Dr Atoshe, SPO, RCH and Additional Director National Health Project informed that the programme is carried out in co-ordination with three departments namely the Department of Health & Family Welfare, School Education and Social Welfare department. 

“The state has a target to cover 6,37,994 children,” he stated while requesting the departments concerned and media to create awareness in order to achieve the mass de-worming programme in all the schools and Anganwadi centres. 

Dr Atoshe also informed that the NDD is an initiative of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India which started in February 2015 and is held twice in a year to eliminate worm infestation of children between the age group of 1 to 19 years of age. Despite so many challenges it has been able to cover 89.8 million children till date.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends deworming of all school age and preschool children with a global target to eliminate morbidity due to worm infestation by 2020.

The Government of India aims to cover at least 90% of all children through the NDD. WHO further states that 65% of children in India between the age group of 1-14 years are at risk of worm infestation. Worm infestation in children leads to anaemia, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and stomach ache. 

Hence, with a simple intervention of one tablet of Albendazole can prevent and improve the life of children, he added. 

There will be a mop-up day on February 17 for those who missed out on deworming day, informed a press release issued by IEC Bureau, CMO Kohima. 

Dr Medosato MO, RBSK demonstrated the six steps to wash our hands. In the welcome address Kevisetuo, Principal Baptist Higher Secondary School, Kohima stated that the school has been observing NDD for the last 4 years. The programme was chaired by Dr Khriesi Nodal Officer, RBSK.