Over 1.1L Hamirpur kids to get deworming tablets

In a major health initiative under the National Deworming Day programme, 110,309 children and youths aged between one and 19 years in Hamirpur district will receive albendazole deworming tablets in the last week of February, said Deputy Commissioner Gandharva Rathore while chairing a meeting on the subject here today. She added that the campaign targeted all schools and anganwari centres with an additional Vitamin ‘A’ dose for 24,748 children aged between one and five years to prevent eye issues and boost immunity.

The Deputy Commissioner said that worms in a child’s stomach hinder physical growth and increase the risks of anaemia and other diseases. She added that deworming was crucial for every child up to 19 years. Rathore stressed coordinated efforts by Health, Education, Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj departments, ASHA workers and staff in this direction. Special focus would ensure coverage for migrant and out-of-school children to achieve full success. She reviewed broader immunization efforts and said that 12 vaccines protected young children from serious diseases. Around 99.83 per cent deliveries in the district were institutional. Under the National Child Health Programme, free treatment and surgeries, including cleft lip repairs, were provided, she added.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Praveen Chaudhary and District Health Officer Dr Ajay Atri presented detailed reports on the programme.