Kids across Shimla district to be given deworming tablets, Vitamin A: DC

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anupam Kashyap today said all children from one to 19 years of age across schools and Anganwadis in Shimla district will be provided with a doze of Albendazole. Besides, Vitamin A supplement will be given to children from one to five years, he added.

The DC was presiding over a meeting regarding the successful organisation of the National Deworming Day and the first phase of Vitamin A distribution. Officials from health, education and women & child development departments, along with other officers concerned, were present on the occasion.

During the meeting, he said ensuring proper nutrition and health of children is the top priority of the state government and district administration. He added that all departments must work in close coordination to ensure effective implementation of the campaign.

“The campaign aims to improve children’s nutrition levels and prevent anaemia. The target is to cover 2,22,687 children across 2,105 government and 450 private schools and 2,154 Anganwadi centres in the district. Training for staff has already been completed, and awareness materials have been distributed for public outreach,” he said.

“Children aged one to two years will be given 2 ml of Vitamin A syrup, followed by half a tablet of Albendazole with a 5-minute gap. Children between the age two to five will receive 2 ml of Vitamin A syrup along with one full tablet of Albendazole. Children above five years will be given one tablet of Albendazole,” the DC said.

2.1L children to be covered in Hamirpur, Bilaspur districts

Hamirpur: Over 2.1 lakh children of two districts, including 1.2 lac in Hamirpur and 90,000 in Bilaspur district, would be given Albendazole tablets on August 21 to improve their immunity. This was stated by respective Deputy Commissioners in meetings with Health and Family Welfare Department today.

Hamirpur DC Amarjit Singh said 1,21,934 children in the 1-19 age group would be given Albendazole deworming tablets along with Vitamin A supplements. He said the officers and employees of all key departments should work in coordination to make the campaign a success.

Bilaspur DC Rahul Kumar said over 90,000 children would be given Albendazole and Vitamin A on August 21. He said the dosage was necessary for children as this would protect them from worms that could prove to be health hazard. The DC said migrant children and kids, who have left school, will also be covered in the campaign. — OC