Shiv Kumar Sharma
Karnal- April 20- The District Coordination Committee meeting was organized in the auditorium of the Mini Secretariat on Monday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dr. Anand Kumar Sharma. In the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner told that Albendazole tablet is completely safe and effective. He instructed the officers of all departments to cooperate in the National Deworming Campaign and make it successful. He appealed to the general public to give Albendazole tablets given through schools and Anganwadi centers to their children on April 21 and May 5 so that the future generation of India can be made healthy.
In the meeting, Civil Surgeon Dr. Poonam Choudhary told that the main objective of the National Deworming Program is to deworm all children of 1 to 19 years of age and all women of 20 to 24 years of age, who are not pregnant or lactating. She said that under this program, on April 21, about 5.2 lakh children aged between 1 to 19 years of the district will be given Albendazole tablets free of cost through all government and private schools and Anganwadi centres. Apart from this, all married women aged between 20 to 24 years who are not pregnant or lactating will also be given free Albendazole tablets at the Anganwadi centre. She said that the children who would be left out due to some reason would be administered Albendazole tablets during the mop up round on May 5.
She told that one of the main causes of anemia in children is worms (stomach worms), due to which the growth of children gets disturbed. Therefore, take care of cleanliness in your house and surrounding areas, keep food items covered, wash fruits and vegetables with clean water before using them, drink clean water, wear shoes/slippers while playing or walking in mud, do not defecate in the open, always use toilet and wash hands with soap before eating food and after defecation so that worm disease can be avoided.
Dr. Keshav Wadhwa, nodal officer of the National Deworming Programme, said that under this program, children would be given deworming tablets through all schools, Anganwadi centres, colleges and ITIs. He also explained the symptoms of worm infection and the benefits of taking Albendazole tablets. He told that severe worm infection can cause many symptoms like stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, weight loss, reduced immunity and lack of concentration in studies, anemia in children, hindrance in the development of children etc. The greater the number of worms in the child, the greater will be the symptoms of infection. He said that taking Albendazole tablets improved health and nutrition, increased immunity, controls anemia, improved learning ability and class attendance and reduced the prevalence of worm infection in the community.
All the Deputy Civil Surgeons, District Asha Coordinator, Education Department, ICDS Department, District Program Coordinator Nehru Yuva Kendra, Evidence Action Technical Associate, Head School Association, officials of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were present in the meeting.