The district administration has set the target of covering 5,89,820 children in the age group of one to 19 in Dharwad district under the National De-worming Programme to be held here on September 25.
Speaking at a preparatory meeting here on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner M. Deepa instructed the officials to see that the drive was held successfully and no child is missed out.
Ms. Deepa said that the drive is being held as part of a national-level campaign to tackle intestinal worm infection among children. De-worming helps combat other health-related issues such as malnutrition and anaemia that come in the way of proper growth of children. The officials concerned should arrange for wider awareness and sensitisation programmes to ensure the maximum participation in this drive, she said.
Ms. Deepa said that arrangements would be made to administer Albenbazole tablets at all anganwadi centres, schools and colleges on that day. While schoolchildren would receive tablets in their respective schools, those who are out of schools would be administered tablets at anganwadi centres. All school and college teachers and anganwadi workers should ensure that tablets are administered in their respective institutions and report to higher officials along with photographs. The parents too should cooperate with the district administration and ensure that their children are administered de-worming tablets on that day, she added.
District Reproductive and Child Health Officer S.M. Honakeri said that a total of 6.20 lakh de-worming tablets have been supplied to schools, colleges and anganwadi centres of the district. The total umber of children in the age group of one to 19 stands at 5.89 lakh in the district. Children between 1-2 years would be given 200 mg while children between 2-19 years would be administered 400 mg tablets. Proper growth of the affected children could be ensured if these tablets are administered once in six months. These are chewing tablets with no side-effects.
The district and taluk officials of the Departments of Health and Family Welfare, Public Instructions, Social Welfare and others were present.
