Children living near brick kilns not administered albendazole tablets

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 15

Children living near brick kilns were not administered albendazole tablets by the district Health Department today on the occasion of Dewroming Day.

Members of an NGO, Volunteers for Social Justice, alleged that despite a number of requests to officials of the Health Department, the children living near various brick kilns were not administered albendazole tablets.

Kulwinder Kaur, a member of the NGO, said, “We requested the officials of the Health Department to administer the tablets to the children living near brick kilns, but they refused saying they a had limited stock of medicine. The children living near brick kilns should also be covered under this national programme.”

RS Randhawa, Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, said, “There was no shortage of medicine, but school children were the priority of the department. However, the medicine was also administered near some brick kilns, but even if some children are left, they will be covered within a week. The tablets were administered to children at anganwadi centres as well as at government and private schools.”

2 lakh schoolchildren administered medicine

However, over 2 lakh schoolchildren were administered albendazole tablets at government and private schools in the district. These tablets were also administered at anganwadi centres.

The medicine was administered to children aged between 1 and 19 years at schools. The children below 2 years were administered half 400 mg albendazole tablet each at the anganwadi centres.

The Civil Surgeon further added that the Health Department had launched a drive to make the masses aware of Deworming Day.

The tablet removes the growth of hook worm, whip worm and round worm in the body.

“Every year, the task of administering the tablet is assigned to the paramedical staff at schools and anganwadi centers. Students at government schools are administered the tablets after a gap of every six months,” he added.