1.94 lakh children, women given medicines during deworming drive in Panchkula

Under the National Deworming Day programme, 1,94,280 children and women in the district were given Albendazole tablets to eliminate stomach worms, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Monika Gupta said.

The campaign covered government and private schools, anganwari centres, colleges, technical institutes, brick kilns and slum areas.

Against the target of 2.04 lakh, 1,82,215 children (aged one to 19 years) and 11,998 women (aged 20 to 24 years) received the medicine, Gupta revealed. The tablets were administered as per age-specific dosage instructions.

The DC further informed that children who missed the first round can take the medicine in the mop-up round on February 18 at nearby CHC and PHC centres.

Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Shivani Hooda stated that worm infections contribute to malnutrition and anaemia in children, leading to symptoms like fatigue, stomach pain and loss of appetite. She advised maintaining hygiene by drinking clean water, covering food and using toilets to prevent infections.