"National Deworming Programme" begins in Assam

The Government of Assam and the National Health Mission, Assam has unitedly started a program named "National Deworming Programme" for children and adolescents between the age group of 1 to 19. This program will run from March 1 to March 15, 2022.

During the time span of these 115 days, the children will be dewormed with Albendazole Tablet. The Albendazole Tablet is completely safe for consumption and certified by the World Health Organization. The tablets will be administered to the students in their respective schools. The ASHA and Anganwadi Centres will also visit the homes to ensure cent-per cent administration of the medicines to all the children within their respective allotted territory.

This initiative, under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was started in the year 2015 in 277 districts across 11 states and Union territories to free every child. National Deworming Day (NDD) is observed annually on 10 February.

During these days of the program, the intestinal worms are killed, which are also referred to as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare established National Deworming Day in February 2015 in 277 districts across 11 states and Union territories (UTs). These include Haryana, Karnataka, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura. Since then, the day has been observed on 10 February across the country every year.

Study and research show that STH infestation hinders in physical growth, leading to anaemia, undernutrition and cognitive development as well as school attendance

Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) are a significant public health concern for Assam. Around 68% of children of 1-14 years of age are estimated to be at risk of parasitic intestinal worm infestation. As per National Centre for Disease Control (2016) the prevalence of STH in Assam is 50%.

Study and research show that STH infestation hinders in physical growth, leading to anaemia, undernutrition and cognitive development as well as school attendance.

Periodic deworming can help in reducing the transmission of STH infections. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with Ministry of Women & Child Development, Department of School Education & Literacy (under Ministry of Human Resource Development), Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Ministry of Panchayati Raj has decided to conduct annual mass deworming day observing National Deworming Day (NDD).

Apart from the deworming, simple steps should be followed to maintain regular hygiene like proper and regular handwashing at regular intervals, using clean and sanitary toilets, wearing slippers most of the time, drinking clean and safe water, eating properly cooked food and keeping nails short and clean.