Nagaland observes National De-Worming Day

DIMAPUR — Health and Family Welfare under the aegis of National Health Mission (NHM) organised the second round National De-worming Day (NDD) programme across Nagaland on Tuesday.

NDD is a government initiative to de-worm children from 1 to 19 years through schools and Anganwadi platforms. The main goal of NDD observation was to improve children’s health, nutritional status, school attendance and overall quality of life by administering Albendazole tablets.

In Kohima, the programme was held at Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima.

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Speaking at the event, Dr. Khrievilhou Nakhro, DPO (RMNCAH+N), informed that children suffer from several harmful health issues because of worm infection such as anemia, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, weakness and anxiety, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and blood in stool. He stated that de-worming tablets would be given free-of-cost at schools and Anganwadi centres targeting children of 1-19 years of age.

The direct benefits of de-worming in children, according to him, included control anemia and improve nutritional uptake while indirect benefits help improve immunity, concentration and capacity to learn, improve work potential and livelihood opportunity also help break the transmission cycle resulting in lesser worm infestation in the community.

The medical officer of RBSK, Dr. Katila Longchar, also spoke on the importance of NDD to the students and demonstrated six steps on hand washing. She also handed over first-aid-kit to the school from RBSK unit Kohima.

In Phek district, the National De-worming Day programme was held at Government High School, Bethel Ward in Phek town.

During the programme, Dr. Khriekuolie Liezietsu, district programme officer of RMNCHA&N, spoke on the benefits of administering Albendazole tablet. He shared that Albendazole is highly effective as it kills intestinal worms, improve nutritional status, reduces anemia, boosts cognitive performance and school attendance, improves general health and immunity etc.

He highlighted that children, who are not de-wormed would have stomach problems, loss of appetite, malnutrition and weight loss, anemia, general fatigue and weakness etc.

Total of 100 students were administered with Albendazole tablet. It informed that the tablet would be administered to children from 1–19 years in all the schools, Anganwadi centres and health facilities across the district.

The mop-up round would be held on September 2 for those missed-out children.

In Wokha, the programme was held at Government High School in Liphayan village. The progamme was organised by Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team, Wokha.

During the progamme, Dr. Thunchanbeni Patton, medical officer of RBSK, spoke on the significance and objectives of National De-worming Day. She mentioned that NDD was first launched in February 2015 and is being held in two phases every year.

She informed on the signs and symptoms of worm infestation, causes and prevention of worm infestation. She encouraged the students to practice hand hygiene and wash food items properly before consumption.

The RBSK team administered Albendazole tablets to the students and conducted health screening.

In Mon district, the programme was held at the CMO’s conference hall in Mon town in the presence of CMO, deputy CMO, DPM, BPMs, UIP staff and RBSK team.

Speaking at the programme, Dr. Supongmenla Walling, CMO Mon, pointed out that health professionals often overlooked the significance of the day and emphasised the need to consistently remind themselves on the purpose and significance it holds for the district.

She stressed on the causes and symptoms of worm infections, mechanism of action of the medication and the usage. She pointed out that infections could impede the mental and physical development in children. She further wished the school health coordinator, Mewang Konyak, for the successful implementation of the programme.

Meanwhile, Mewang informed that the medicine would be distributed to all the government and private schools in the district as well as Anganwadi centres (AWW). He further stated that ASHAs would go door-to-door to reach-out to school dropouts and those who are not registered at AWW centres.