Health ministry launches ‘National Deworming Day’

To treat 140 million children for parasitic worms, ALBENDAZOLE tablets and syrup will be administered to pre–school and school children ages 1-19 years

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the first ‘National Deworming Day’ – a massive school-based deworming effort in twelve states scheduled for February 10, 2015. Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Government of India inaugurated the national program, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, together with Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister, Government of Rajasthan and Rajendra Rathore, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Government of Rajasthan, in the presence of senior officials from the central and state government.

National Deworming Day is an initiative focused on reducing the threat of parasitic worm infections, a widespread health issue affecting over 241 million children in India alone.

Nadda said, “The early years of a child are the most critical and significant. I am confident that if the comprehensive set of actions identified in National Deworming Day Guidelines is fully implemented, children will have improved health outcomes and be able to achieve their potential to the fullest.”

The Government of India is reportedly launching a fixed one-day school-based programme to ensure intensive deworming coverage and targeted outreach. Community mobilisation efforts are also undertaken to engage community-based health workers and other local institutions.

Albendazole will be orally administered to pre–school and school-going children ages 1-19 years in government schools and anganwadi centres across the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Tripura. The National Deworming Day campaign will treat an initial 140 million children at risk for parasitic worms in schools and anganwadi centres with schoolteachers and anganwadi workers administering the drugs. In line with any mass-based public health initiative, stringent adverse event protocols are put in place with teachers, anganwadi workers, health officials trained to respond as needed.

Priya Jha, Director of India Programs for Evidence Action’s Deworm the World Initiative said, “Periodic deworming of children together with improved water, sanitation and health education, can significantly reduce the prevalence and detrimental health impacts of parasitic worms in children.”

Evidence Action is the technical partner to the Government of India for National Deworming Day.