The National Deworming initiative was launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
- It was launched on the occasion of National Deworming Day (observed on 10 February).
- This year it is fourth edition of National Deworming Day after it was launched in 2015.
Aim of the initiative
- It aims to reach more than 32.2 crore children aged between 1 to 19 years to combat parasitic worm infections. The basic objective is deworm all preschool and school-age children between the ages of 1-19 years in order to improve their overall health, cognitive development, nutritional status and quality of life.
Highlights
- The targeted children are provided with Albendazole tablets on this day.
- Dosage of half tablet to 1-2 years children and one full tablet for 2-19 years is given.
- It would help in encouraging a change in behavior I terms of cleanliness, hygiene, use of toilets, wearing shoes, washing hands etc. since it is important to reduce incidents of re-infection.
- Implementation of deforming programmes is led by the Union MoHFW. The Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) and Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) also collaborate to implement this initiative.
- Parasitic worms or Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) are among the most common infections worldwide that causes parasitic infestation in children.
- STHs live in human intestines and consume essential nutrients meant for the human body.
- It causes complications among the children resulting in anaemia, malnutrition and improper mental and physical development.
About National Deworming Day-
- Deworming day is a day dedicated to deworm all the school going children of the country to give them a healthy digestive system.
- It is celebrated all over India on 10th of February every year.
- Its aim is to reduce the cases of worm infection among kids all over India.
- It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in February 2015 as part of the National Health Mission.
- Its basic objective is to combat the situation of worm infection in India.
- Kids are vulnerable to the worm infections in their childhood, so it is very necessary to save them from worm infection through good habit (hygienic) practices and deworming tablets.
- It is an initiative to make people aware about worm infections, its bad effects on the health and cure and prevent further infection through deworming tablets.
