Deworming drive in Odisha from today

The State Government has decided to go for mass distribution of deworming drugs to targeted children and teenagers to mark National Deworming Day on Friday.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to go for mass distribution of deworming drugs to targeted children and teenagers to mark National Deworming Day on Friday.

As per the decision, 1.46 crore children in the age group of one to 19 will be covered in all 30 districts. The deworming dose will be administered at 63,778 Government and 3,350 private educational institutions besides 71,134 Anganwadi centres.

Health Secretary Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda has called on the public to come forward and cooperate with Health Department staff in administering deworming tablets to children. 

He has directed the district Collectors and CDMOs besides medical officers to ensure that the targeted children are properly administered the deworming dose. They have been asked to create awareness about deworming of children and improvement of sanitation.  

Of total 1,46,53,000 targeted children, while 8,85,680 kids belong to the age group of one to two, the rest 1,37,68,002 fall under the age bracket of two to 19. Medical officers have been alerted to follow the prescribed procedure strictly in case mild adverse reactions like nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting sensation, diarrhoea and fatigue occur.

As per the statistics, 37 per cent of the State’s population suffer from worm infection which is a major factor for malnutrition, anaemia and deficiency of vitamin-A. The infestation also affects physical and mental growth among children.   

The drive has been planned by the Union Health Ministry to protect children from soil transmitted helminth infections from round worms, hook worms and whip worms.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com