Kohima, August 9 (MExN): Principal Director Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Vikeyie Losu officially launched the National Deworming Day (NDD) 2nd phase for 2018 at Dr. Neilhouzhu Kire Government Higher Secondary School, Seikhazou, Kohima on August 9. The programme was organized by the Department of Health & Family Welfare Nagaland.
“National De-worming Day (NDD) is a fixed day-approach where all children between 1-19 years of age are targeted to receive treatment for parasitic intestinal worms (Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis) through the platform of schools and Anganwadi centers,” said Dr. Atoshe Sema, State Programme Officer RMNCH+ A.
He stated that the first National Deworming Day, which began in February 2015 and implemented in 11 states successfully, de-wormed 89.8 million children in the age group of 1 -19 years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends “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. He added that the Government of India aims to cover at least 90% of all children through the National Deworming Day program.
He said that worm infection in children leads to anemia, weakness, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss etc. and added that a simple intervention in the form of one tablet of albendazole (safe and proven) avoids all these and indirectly helps children in improving the concentration and learning capacity with good health.
The programme will be carried out in coordination amongst three departments (Health and Family Welfare, Department of School Education, and Women and Child Development (ICDS)) along with the health workers, school teachers and anganwadi workers.
He said the main objective of the mission is to de-worm all pre-school and school-age children (enrolled and non-enrolled) between the ages of 1-19 years through the platform of Government aided schools, Private Schools and Anganwadi centers in order to improve their overall health, nutritional status, access to education and quality of life. We cannot reduce worm infection in the community without universal coverage of all children and stressed on coverage of private schools along with the rest of children.
For universal deworming, he said that with good sanitation and hygiene we can reach our target to eliminate morbidity due to worm infection by 2020. He also said that community and village level mobilization and awareness on de-worming needs to be carried out involving the ASHAs, AWWs and PRI workers to successfully carry out the mission.
He urged the concerned departments and the media to create awareness and successfully carry out the mass De-worming Programme which is on August 10 and mop up day on August 17 for those children missed out on the deworming day through schools and Anganwadi centers.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Bijano, Principal Dr Neilhouzhu Kire GHSS Seikhazou.Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Khriesi Sachu, Deputy Director Health & Family Welfare and Rose Chishi, Vice Principal Dr. Neilhouzhu Kire GHSS Seikhazou invoked blessings at the launching programme.
