MoHFW to organise anganwadi and school-based deworming programme in India

Albendazole 400 mg tablets will be administered to children aged one to 19

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India announced the pan-India rollout of National Deworming Day. National Deworming Day is a nation-wide, preschool (anganwadi) and school-based deworming effort that will be observed across India on February 10, 2016 to deworm all children at risk of worm infection.

Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Dr Charlakola Laxma Reddy, Minister, Health Medical & Family Welfare, Telangana will hold the launch event for National Deworming Day 2016. The launch will be held at Telangana Social Welfare Residential School and Junior college for girls, Rajendra Nagar Mandal, Rangareddy District, Telangana. Albendazole 400 mg tablets will be administered to children aged one to 19.

Launched in 2015, National Deworming Day 2016 will be the largest single-day, school-based deworming effort in the world. National Deworming Day in 2015 reached more than 89.9 million children in 10 states and one union territory.

Community mobilisation and outreach efforts are also being undertaken and engage health workers, including ASHAs, to raise awareness about the harmful effects of worm infections, the benefits of deworming, and to encourage community participation in the programme.