KOZHIKODE: As part of the nationwide campaign to cure anaemia and related illness among the children, a De-worming Day would be observed on February 8. A total of 716,147 children, including those of migrant workers, are targeted, announced Additional District Medical Officer Dr S.N. Ravi Kumar in a press conference here. The mass de- worming will be administered on children in the age group of 1 to 19 to protect them from parasitic worm infection. The district medical department has decided to administer Albendazole tablets via the facilities arranged at all educational institutions including private schools, anganawadis and the health centers across the district.
The department has entrusted the responsibility to carry out the mission to the health workers, teachers, Asha workers and Kudumbashree workers, who are trained to administer the tablets to the children. “Worm infections can cause anemia, malnourishment, impaired mental and physical development; and may cause a serious threat to children's health, education, and productivity. According to a study, the infected children cannot concentrate on their studies and they find very hard to put up their daily activities”, said Dr S.N. Ravi Kumar.
Through the mission, we are creating awareness among the public and we aim to prevent or cure infections that comes through soil like round- worm, flukes and tapeworm, he further added. As per the mission, the tablets will be provided to 1,920 schools, 2,938 anganawadis and 7,16,147 students studying in these institutions in the district.
According to the officials, the children will be administered with the tablets on February 8 at schools after the lunch hours and will be marked against their name in the attendance roll. District panchayat president Babu Parassery will inaugurate the district level launch of the programme at Kozhikode Chalappuram Govern-ment Achuthan Girl’s Higher Secondary School on February 8 at 12 Pm.
