Nationwide drive to deworm kids today

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 9

In what is set to be the world’s largest programme to end the risk of parasitic worm infections among children, the government will tomorrow administer treatment for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) to schoolchildren and out-of-school child population across the country. Everyone aged one to 19 will be covered through schools and anganwaris.

National Deworming Day (February 10) comes after the WHO estimated India as the country with the highest burden of worm infections with 220 million children aged 1 to 14 at risk.

The WHO had set a global milestone of covering 50 per cent school-age children with deworming treatment by 2015 and 75 per cent by 2022. While the Health Ministry successfully achieved the 50 per cent coverage target last year, tomorrow it seeks to get past the 75 per cent milestone despite the deadline being 2022. Health Minister JP Nadda today declared the launch of the national campaign from Hyderabad, given Andhra Pradesh’s high parasitic infection burden.

“The campaign will involve administration of Albendezole 400 mg chewable tablets in quantities of half to children aged one to two years and full to children beyond 2 years. We will cover all one to 19-year-old children in schools and anganwari centres. Stock of medicines is in place so are our monitors. Deworming is critical. If left untreated, worms will feed on children’s nutrients aggravating their anaemia and adding to India’s malnutrition burden. Deworming improves children’s mental faculties by aiding concentration,” says Dr Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Health, handling the campaign.