Deworming tablets were given to over eight lakh children during the ‘National Deworming Day’ here on Wednesday.
Collector M. Karunakaran, who gave albendazole tablets to students of Kamarajar Corporation Higher Secondary School at Pettai near here, said the tablets were being given to all students. Staff of primary health centres and anganvadis across the district would cover uncovered students in their homes. In all, the tablets would be given to 8,48,794 children.
“While the staff of primary health centres and the anganvadis were trained in administering the drugs, the teachers have been trained in giving albendazole to the students. While the babies between the age of 1 and 2 are given half of tablet (200 mg) or 5 ml syrup, the children in the age group of 2 and 5 years are given a tablet or 10 ml syrup. The deworming tablet or syrup will enhance the children’s immunity and guard them against anaemia. Above all, the students should exercise regularly after getting up early in the morning. The children should wash their hands properly before and after taking food,” he said.
Corporation Mayor E. Bhuvaneshwari was present.
Tuticorin
Collector M. Ravikumar inaugurated the deworming programme at Government High School in Eppodhum Vendran by distributing tablets to students. A total of 4,39,126 children in the age group of one to 19 years would be covered under the drive.
The tablets would be distributed to students of 1,583 government and aided schools, 119 private schools and 1,477 anganwadi centres and uncovered students would be given tablets on August 17, he said.
The children should consume the tablets in front of their teachers. The drive would be carried out with the involvement of healthcare staff from a total of 53 primary health centres, urban health centres, anganwadi workers and village health nurses.
Under Corporation limits, around 78,000 students from 76 government and aided schools and corporation schools would be covered. Besides, students of 132 private schools would be covered. Children could access 93 anganwadi centres and take such tablets.
Chief Educational Officer M. Ramakrishnan, Joint Director of Health P. Banu, Deputy Director of Health Services, Thoothukudi, M. Madhusothanan, Deputy Director of Health, Kovilpatti, Bosco Raja, District Social Welfare Officer, Jayasuriya, Integrated Child Development Services Officer, Fathima, Assistant Director of Panchayats, Lakshmanan attended.
Nagercoil
De-worming tablets were given to 4.9 lakh children between 1 and 19 ages across Kanniyakumari district on Wednesday. First dose of de-worming tablets were distributed on the National De-worming Day on February 10 this year for about 4.5 lakh students.
Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan inaugurated the distribution of tablets at the Government High School in Eachenvilai in Agasteeswaram taluk in the presence of Deputy Director of Health M. Madhusoodhanan, Revenue Divisional Officer R. Rajkumar, Chief Education Officer V. Jayakumar and ICDS Project Director Pechiammal.
He said the tablets were distributed to all the students between the age of 1 and 19 studying in 810 government and aided schools, 274 private schools, 1401 Anganwadis. Those who missed on Wednesday would be given tablets on August 17. As many as 3,088 officials and employees from the department of health, education and anganwadi were involved in distribution of tablets.
