The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India is implementing the National Deworming Day in schools and preschools (anganwadis) across India on 10 February 2016. To combat parasitic worm infections among preschool (anganwadi) and school-age children, albendezole 400 mg chewable tablets will be administered to children at government, government-aided, and private schools, and anganwadis. Out-of-school children will be administered the deworming tablet at anganwadis.

The National Deworming Day will be followed by a mop-up day on February 15, 2016 to administer the deworming tablet to children who were absent from the school or anganwadi on 10 February. Research in West Africa has shown mass deworming programmes in schools reduced absenteeism by 25 per cent.

What is the Goal?

The goal of National Deworming Day is to deworm all preschool and school-age children between the ages of 1-19 years at schools and anganwadi centres in order to improve their overall health, nutritional status, cognitive development, and quality of life.

Why Deworming?

Worm infections interfere with nutrient uptake; can lead to anemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development; and pose a serious threat to children’s health, education, and productivity. Infected children are often too sick or tired to concentrate at school, or to attend at all. Treatment with a deworming tablet is universally recognized as a safe and cost-effective solution.

Albendazole

Albendazole, the tablet used for deworming, has been used widely for decades all around the world. It is very safe and has very few side effects.

Did You Know???

• India has the highest burden of soil-transmitted helminths or STH in the world, with 241 million children at risk of parasitic worm infections.
• Under-nutrition and anaemia in children has been well documented in India: almost 7 in 10 children in the 6-59 months age-group are anaemic, with even higher rates of anaemia in rural areas.
• The NDD has emerged as the world’s largest public health campaign for treatment of intestinal parasitic worms.