6.14 lakh Virudhunagar children to get deworming tablets

All those in schools would be given tablets through their teachers.

Over 6.14 lakh children in the age group of one to 19 years of the district would be given Albendazole tablet on August 10 as part of National Deworming Day.

All the children in Government and aided schools would be given the tablets through their teachers and those out of school would be given through Anganwadi workers after lunch.

While those in the age of up to two years would be given half of the Albendazole 400 mg tablet, children above two years would be given one tablet, Virudhunagar Collector A. Sivagnanam, said.

The deworming tablets would help improve the health of the children and avoid malnutrition. It would also help them concentrate on their studies.

Worms enter the bodies of children, while eating unhygienic food and without properly washing their hands, and affect their health.

The worms also enter the body of children when they walk on roads bare-foot. Worms lead to tiredness, ill-health, lack of appetite, anaemia, vomiting, stomach pain among other complications, the Collector said.

He advised people to wash their hands with soap before meals, drink boiled water and thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits before consuming them.

Similarly, people should use footwear while stepping out of their houses and use toilets and avoid open defecation. They should clip their nails regularly to avoid worms.

He urged all the children to make use of the deworming day to keep themselves healthy.