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ayushadmin | Nov 24, 2020 | 431

All you need to know about national deworming day

The National Deworming Day (Rashtreeya Krimi Mukta Diwasa) is an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to ensure every child in the country is worm free.

It is estimated that more than 835 million children are at risk of parasitic worm infections across the world.

WHO estimates what more than 241 million children between the ages of 1 and 14 years are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms in India, also known as Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH).

What is STH?

Helminths or worms are transmitted through soil contaminated with faecal matter called Soil Transmitted Helminths (Intestinal Parasitic Worms).

Dangers of STH worms to human body

• Adult worms live in human intestines and reproduces by thousands of eggs each day
• The Eggs are passed in the faeces of infected person
• The Eggs contaminate the soil and spread infection in many ways: Vegetables – not properly cleaned, washed and peeled.
• Ingested from contaminated water sources
• Ingested by children who play in soil and put their hands in their mouths without washing their hands.

Effects of STH Infections

• Malnutrition
• Impaired Mental and Physical Development
• Reduced attendance at school
• Anemia

To curb the worm infection in India, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the National Deworming Day in February 2015

What do they do on this day?

Albendazole (A prescription drug used to treat certain tapeworm infections (such as neurocysticercosis and hydatid disease) is administered to children. Half a tablet will be administered for children in the age group of 1-2 years and 1 Tablet each to those in the 2-19 age group.

Apart from that children are sensitized and made aware of:

• Hygienic practices
• Cleanliness
• Use of Toilets
• Use of footwear
• Washing hands before eating food
• Cleaning hands after using Toilet

The National Deworming Day is being observed to deworm all school going children between the ages of 1-19 years.

Proper Awareness and taking Deworming tablets will not only improve health but also cognitive development among kids.

National Deworming Day in Karnataka

About 94% children in Karnataka were administered deworming medicine last year in Karnataka as per data available from Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakrama (RBSK).

As part of our societal responsibility, we should also involve children in our neighborhood to take part in Deworming for better health and cognitive development.