Punjab News Express
CHANDIGARH: Punjab is observing National De-worming day on 12th February, 2018 and mop up day on 15th February 2018. The campaign would be carried out across the State in the schools and anganwadi centers and for those out-of-schools through AWC with mobilization by ASHA on the occasion of National De-worming Day.
Official Spokesperson of the Punjab Health & Family Welfare department disclosing this information said that Albendazole tablets would be given after meal in single dose to all children of age 1 year to 19 years (1-2 years 200 mg & 2-19 years 400 mg) in Anganwadi Centres, Govt. & Govt. aided schools and Private schools under the supervision of school teachers and anganwadi workers. He said that along with this an intensive awareness generation campaign would be carried out focusing on information regarding benefits of de-worming.
The Spokesperson said that Emergency Response Systems (ERS) have been constituted in each hospital for management of adverse events, if any following de-worming drive. Contact Numbers of Emergency team are being given to every schools and anganwadi centre of the state.
The spokesperson further said that counseling for improving dietary intake shall also be given. Adopting sanitation and hygiene practices, taking actions for prevention of intestinal anemia would be done by School Nodal Teachers and Anganwadi Workers.
He also informed that malnutrition, lack of balanced diet and worm infestation are the main causes of anemia. Worm infestation interfere with nutrients uptake which leads to anemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development and pose serious threat to child’s health, education and productivity. Infected children are often too sick or tired to concentrate at school or to attend at all. Prevention and control of anemia with a de-worming tablet is universally recognized as a safe and cost effective solution and one of the key strategies to improve health of children and adolescents.
Deworming improves Nutritional impairment, Anemia, loss of Appetite weight loss and reduce absenteeism. Deworming improve cognitive outcomes. Treated student continue to benefit a decade after the programme.