A student receives an Albendazole tablet during the National
Deworming Day at Government High School, Forest Colony, Kohima, on Monday.
DIMAPUR — National
Deworming Day (NDD) was observed on Monday in Kohima, Wokha, and Mokokchung,
alongside the launch of deworming campaigns.
Kohima: The
Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Kohima, under the aegis of the National
Health Mission (NHM), held the National Deworming Day programme at Government
High School, Forest Colony, led by Dr. Khrievilhou Nakhro, district programme
officer (DPO) (RCH/UIP).
The programme was chaired by DPM Avikali Jakhalu, with the
welcome note delivered by assistant headmistress Swedesunuo Zao.
In the launch of NDD, DPO (RMNCAH+N) Dr. Khrievilhou Nakhro
said that children suffer from several harmful health issues due to worm
infections, including anaemia, nutritional impairment, loss of appetite,
weakness and anxiety, stomach ache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, and blood
in stool.
He also said that on National Deworming Day, deworming
tablets would be given free of cost at schools and Anganwadi centres, targeting
children aged 1 to 19 years, as all children should be dewormed, even if some
do not fall ill.
The benefits of deworming children were also highlighted by
the DPO. He stated that the direct benefits of deworming include controlling
anaemia and improving nutritional uptake, while the indirect benefits help
improve immunity, concentration, and the capacity to learn.
MO (RBSK) Dr. Nikdirenla Lusang also emphasised the
importance of NDD to the students and demonstrated the six steps of handwashing
at the school premises.
Wokha: In Wokha
district, the campaign was launched during a programme organised by the
Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) at Government Middle School, Sector D,
Forest Colony.
Speaking during the launch programme, Dr. Lirenthung
Khuvung, medical officer , RBSK, emphasised the importance of deworming,
sanitation, hand hygiene, and Anaemia Mukt Bharat, according to an update.
Dr. Khuvung informed that worm infestation in children can
affect their overall growth and development. Taking the correct dose of
Albendazole tablets can prevent various diseases, such as anaemia and
malnutrition in children, he added.
He also encouraged the participants to keep their
surroundings clean, wash food items with clean water, and practice proper
handwashing techniques.
During the programme, the RBSK team administered deworming
tablets and iron folic acid tablets to the school students, and anaemia
screening was also conducted.
Mokokchung: In
Mokokchung, the district-level National Deworming Day was held at Government
Middle School Mopongsen, Merangkong. It was mentioned that the campaign will be
carried out throughout schools, AWCs, and health units in Mokokchung district.
In its launching programme, Dr. Suimzenla, MO (Ayush), gave
a health talk on the effects of parasitic worms on health, the importance of
hygiene, and their treatment to the students and teachers present during the
programme.
She stated that the objective of the day is to deworm
children and adolescents in order to reduce the prevalence of parasitic worms
in the intestine.
Concluding the launching programme, the RBSK team from the
Office of the CMO Mokokchung administered the required dose of Albendazole
tablets to every child enrolled in the school.
The programme was conducted by the RBSK team in Mokokchung,
led by Dr. Suimzenla, MO (Ayush), and Dr. Arenkaba, MO (Ayush).
