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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 8 (EMN): In view of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global target to eliminate morbidity due to worms (soil-transmitted helminthiasis) in children, who are aged between 1 and 19, by 2020 through regular treatment in endemic areas, the first phase of the National Deworming Day (NDD) 2019 was launched at the Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Kohima on Feb. 8.
The state-level programme, an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to make every child in the country worm-free, was organised under the aegis of Health and Family Welfare Department, Nagaland.
Programme Officer (RMNCH+A), Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Atoshe Sema said during his keynote address that the health programme targets at providing treatment for worm to children through the platform of government and private schools, Anganwadi centres, accredited social health activists (ASHAs), and health workers in the state.
“With the target of 6,36,161 in Aug. 2018 round, the State could deworm 5,97,739 children across the 11 districts with an achievement rate of 93.96%. This February 2019 round too, the State targets the same as August 2018 (6,36,161),” said Sema.
Giving a brief overview of how the first National Deworming Day began in the country, he said the programme was initially implemented in 11 states in February 2015 and a total of 89.8 million children in 1-19 age group were dewormed. Some measures one can take to avoid worm infection include proper hand-washing before eating and after using toilets, good sanitation, and maintaining good hygiene, said Sema.
According to WHO, 65% of children in India aged between 1-14 are at risk of worm infestation. Worm infection in children leads to anaemia, weakness, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and other ailments.
Mission Director, National Health Mission, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru said that the deworming programme will cover all the children in the state. He added that Anganwadi centres will take care of drop-out students and children who don’t go to school.
Medikhru, who launched the National Deworming Day, informed that children who missed out on the day can do so during the mop-up programme on Feb. 14. The second phase of the deworming programme will be conducted in August this year, he added.
It may be mentioned that the programme had been carried out in coordination amongst three departments in convergence namely; Health and Family Welfare, dept. of School Education, and Women and Child Development (ICDS).
NDD at Wokha
All the schools and Anganwadi centres in Wokha district observed the National Deworming Day at St. Peter’s School, Longsa Wokha on Feb. 8 2019, according to a press release issued by Media Officer, NHM Wokha, Mhonbeni Ezung.
Dr. Khokholie MO RBSK spoke on the importance of deworming children during the programme.
2500 students dewormed in Tuensang
The District Health Society (DHS) Tuensang conducted the 1st round of National Deworming Day (NDD) in the district on Feb. 8. The campaign was launched by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr.I. Temsu Longchar along with the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team at Trinity School, Tuensang town.
A total of 2500 students were dewormed on the first day of the campaign, according to a statement issued by Media Officer Tuensang Apheng. Dr. Mongko MO (RBSK) briefed the gathering on the importance of deworming.