PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that over 36 lakh children and adolescents aged one to 19 years across the state will receive Albendazole (deworming) medication on Tuesday. He emphasised the importance of administering this deworming medicine to ensure the complete development of children.
He said that this year, the 17th phase of the National Deworming Day programme will be held statewide on Tuesday, specifically targeting 36.58 lakh children. This initiative will be carried out jointly by the Health department and the Education department through an intensive campaign at Anganwadi centres, schools, colleges and primary health centres, as well as in remote areas and slums. To ensure the success of this campaign on a large scale, instructions have been issued to the chief medical officers, chief education officers and local administration of all districts.
Rawat instructed departmental officers to ensure that children who miss the medication will be required to take it on the mop-up day scheduled for April 16. He stressed that clear guidelines have been provided for the successful execution of Deworming Day in the state. Additionally, officers have been tasked with ensuring an adequate supply of Albendazole at schools and Anganwadi centres, fostering inter-departmental coordination and training Anganwadi workers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and teachers for the proper administration of the medicine, he said.
He further informed that officers have been directed to visit schools, Anganwadi centres, and primary health centres to monitor the process and implement corrective actions to benefit the children. Rawat said that 16 phases of National Deworming Day have successfully taken place in the state. He added that during the Deworming Day in September 2024, a total of 33.14 lakh children aged one to 19 were given deworming medicine, and this year, the target has been raised to over 36 lakh in order to ensure that 100 per cent children can be made worm-free through the administration of this vital medicine, he said.
