All the children and adolescents of age group 1 to 19 years will be given deworming medicine
Target set to provide deworming medicine to a total of 85.27 lakh children of 24 districts in Chhattisgarh
National Deworming Day will be observed in the state on September 9. All children and adolescents of age one year to 19 years will be given deworming medicine in Anganbadi centers, government schools, health centers, private aided schools and technical education institutions. Providing anthelmintic medication to children and adolescents is essential for good health, better nutrition, access to regular education and enhanced quality of life.
Deputy Director of Infant and Child Health Program Dr. VR. Bhagat informed that a target has been set to provide anthelmintic medicine to 85 lakh 27 thousand children and adolescents in the state (age group of one to 19 years). He said that 400 mg of anthelmintic drug (Albendazole) would be administered by teachers in schools and Anganbadi workers at Anganbadi centres. Mop-up day will be organized on 14th September in which medicines will be administered to children and adolescents who could not get the deworming medicine. This will improve their health and nutritional status, prevent anemia, boost intellectual development and improve the school attendance. Teachers and Anganbadi workers will give anthelmintic medicine (Albendazole) to children in following manner- half a tablet (grinded) to children of age one year to two years, one tablet (grinded) to children of age two to three years, one tablet (chewable) to children of age three to five years. Children of age five to 19-years can take the tablet with water.
Dr. Bhagat has informed that the use of anthelmintic medicine is completely safe for children and adolescents. Children may experience some common side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mild abdominal pain and tiredness due to worms in the body. In addition, children who have acute worm infestation usually may also experience some temporary side-effects, which can be easily taken care of in school and Anganbadi centres. If these symptoms are found in children and adolescents, they should be given clean drinking water and kept under supervision.
It is necessary to give deworming medicine twice a year
On National Deworming Day, one tablet of Albendazole will be given to each of the children in schools and Anganbadi centres. Special attention will be paid to include those children and adolescents in the campaign who do not go to school. According to experts, worms in the stomach can create many health problems. Parents should be observe their children for symptoms such as not feeling like studying, lack of interest in eating, poor health despite adequate food intake, anemia etc. These symptoms can be treated with albendazole tablet. This medicine can help children avoid becoming anaemic. The medicine relieves mental stress and keeps the child’s health in better shape. For mental and physical development, it is necessary to feed anthelmintic medicine to children from 1 to 19 years twice a year.
