Deworming: Children Between 1 to 19 Years To Get Free Albendazole Tablet
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Shimla, Nov 29 – Deworming is an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to make every child in the country worm free. Every year Himachal Pradesh under the guidance of GoI, MoHFW is observing NDD bi-annually in the month of May and November. All children between 1 year to 19 years of age group whether living in cities or in villages, studying in Government and Private Schools or out of School children will be administered tablet Albendazole. The 2nd round of NDD conducted on 21st November 2022. Mop up round of the same for the left out children will be done on 25th Nov 2022.
This key program initiative is implemented with an objective to reduce the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) or parasitic intestinal worms so that they are no longer a public health problem. As per WHO, 64% of the Indian population less than 14 years are at risk of STH infections.
As per the Govt. of India survey report of June 2019 the prevalence rate of Soil transmitted helminths (STH) in Himachal Pradesh has been declined substantially from 29% in 2015 to 0.3% .
Importance of Deworming: Anganwadi and school-based mass deworming program is safe, cost-effective, and can reach lakhs of children quickly. Deworming has been shown to reduce absenteeism in schools; improve health, nutritional, and learning outcomes; and increase the likelihood of higher-wage jobs later in life.
Through a single fixed day approach, the NDD program in this round, targets to reach 18 lacs children and adolescents in 12 districts of state in the age group of 1-19 years. Vitamin A drops is also being administered to the children of age from 1 year to 5 year. The program is implemented in coordination the Women and Child Development and Education department, where the anganwadi workers and teachers administer the deworming medicine to children and adolescents at the anganwadis and schools. ASHA workers support the efforts through community mobilization and sensitization of communities about the ill effects of worm infestations. The success of the NDD program has incrementally increased with each round. In the November NDD round was observed on 21st Nov with Mop-up round on 25th Nov 2022 with approximately 98% coverage of Vitamin A and Tablet Albendazole to eligible beneficiaries.
Deworming may have very few side effects and some children, especially those with high worm infections, might experience nausea, mild abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. In line with the guidance from the MoHFW, comprehensive adverse event protocols have been put in place.
Apart from being dewormed, maintaining healthy and hygienic practices will help children and communities remain safe from worm infections. The States envision an open-defecation-free Himachal which holds the capacity to reduce the overall worm burden in a community.
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