Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has set a target of deworming approximately 1.3 crore children in 30 districts of the State as part of a massive drive under the August round of the National Deworming Day bi-annual campaign.
Regular deworming prevents children from intestinal parasitic worms that can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, impaired mental, physical and cognitive development and reduced school participation.
Under the August round of the National Deworming Day bi-annual campaign, the State Government aims to reach approximately 1.3 crore children from 1 to 19 years across all 30 districts, in convergence with major Government departments – Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, School and Mass Education, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare.
Family Welfare Director in a press conference on Tuesday said that, “Given the importance of deworming of children, any child who is not dewormed on National Deworming Day (August 8) due to sickness or absenteeism will be administered the tablet on August 16 (Mop up Day).”
“In addition, the State Government will implement the bi-annual Vitamin A supplementation campaign in August 2019. Under this programme all children from nine months to five years will be administered age specific vitamin A dose at the Routine Immunisation session sites,” added he.
Public Health Director said that Government is combining the NDD round with Lymphatic Filariasis- Mass Drug Administration campaign (LF-MDA) through door to door visits in five districts – Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Khurda and Nuapada – where there is a prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis.
This will cover the eligible population two years old and above.
State Institute of Health and Family Welfare Director said that to generate public awareness information and communication materials for NDD have been specially developed in Odia, with support from UNICEF.
This includes materials like radio jingles, wall paintings, TV spots, posters, and social media infographics. Further, to mobilise children in private schools, a special package of information material has been developed, added he.
