Bhubaneswar: To combat the threat of intestinal worms among children, the State Government has asked all Collectors and Commissioners of five Corporations to ensure effective implementation of National Deworming Day (NDD) in their respective districts during this month.
In this regard, Department of Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit, Women & Child Development Secretary Shubha Sarma, School & Mass Education Secretary Aswathy S and ST & SC Development Secretary Roopa Roshan Sahoo have jointly written letters to all Collectors and Municipal Commissioners.
Soil transmitted helminths (STH) is a significant public health concern in India. As per Centre’s estimate 29.7% of children of our State have STH.
STH is detrimental to physical and cognitive development of the children. In areas where parasitic worms are endemic, administering safe, effective deworming drugs to the children at schools and AWCs leads to significant improvement in outcomes related to education, career choice, earnings, and long term well- being.
Therefore, the four Departments and Panchayati Raj & DW are conducting the biannual mass deworming across the State in all schools and AWCs. Intensive awareness generation activities focusing on benefits of consuming Aibendazole and adoption of Water Sanitation & Hygiene practices (WASH) are also undertaken.
This year, the NDD August 2023 round will be held on August 10, 2023 and Mop Up Day on August 17, 2023 in 19 districts i.e. Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Pun & Raygada.
Under NDD, the children aged 1-19 years and women of reproductive age 20-24years (non-pregnant non-lactating) will be provided with Albendazole (suspension/ tablet) at respective schools and AWCs by Teachers & AWWs.
In rest of the 11 districts (Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj) 1-2 year age group children will be provided with Albendazole suspension in routine immunisation sessions, the Secretaries told Collectors.
All Government, Government aided & private schools are included in the programme. Special drives should be undertaken to include private schools in urban and rural areas.
In case of any adverse event, the medical team will attend the adverse events at the service delivery points. The mobile health unit vehicles and Ambulances (108) will be utilized to respond quickly for addressing any untoward event.
The Collectors were asked to give concerted efforts from all concerned departments at the district and block level to ensure effective implementation and increased coverage of the programme. They were requested to ensure successful implementation of the programme.