Bhubaneswar: In order to combat the problem of intestinal worms among women of reproductive age and children, the Odisha government will launch deworming campaign across state on August 10.
Speaking at a presser in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Dr Bijay Kumar Panigrahi, Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said his department in association with UNICEF will organise the campaign.
For those who would miss the dose on August 10, a deworming mop-up round (MUD) will be held on August 17. The campaign will be implemented through anganwadis and schools to reach about 1 crore beneficiaries in the state, he added.
Emphasising the significance of deworming and the need to spread awareness among parents and caregivers, he said, “Our goal is to ensure that children remain free from intestinal worm’s and protect women of reproductive age from developing anaemia.”
Sourav Bhattacharjee, nutrition specialist, UNICEF, said deworming is an effective intervention to reduce worm infestation and tackle anaemia. “Deworming intervention will contribute significantly to the state government’s AMLAN programme which aims to reduce anaemia among adolescent girls and women.” he added.
This year’s target group of National Deworming Day (NDD) are children aged between 1 and 19 years and women of reproductive age of 20 to 24 years. However, those who are not pregnant or lactating will be excluded. The doses will be distributed twice in a year in February and August.
The children in the age group of 1–19 years will be given Albendazole (in tablet or suspension form) and those in 1–5 years Albendazole suspension. The children of 6–19 years and women of reproductive age will be distributed Albendazole tablets.
The drive in August will cover 19 districts of the state including Balangir, Bhadrak, Boudh, Balasore, Cuttack, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jagatsighpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada, Puri, Nayagarh, and Rayagada.
Besides, children of 1-2 years in 11 LF-MDA districts including Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Mayurbhanj, will be also covered.
Dr Sanjay Sahoo, Nutrition officer, UNICEF, Dr Smruti Ranjan Patnaik, Joint Director, Nutrition, Family Welfare department and Dr Pratima Pradhan, Joint Director, Child Health, Family Welfare department were also present.
