The Health department plans to cover a total of 5,15,433 children under its deworming drive, organised as a part of National Deworming Day, from February 8.
Speaking to reporters, on Wednesday, District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao said the deworming campaign for children would be held in all government, aided and private schools, anganwadi centres, ITI and polytechnic colleges in the district.
Albendazole tablet will be given to children, aged between 2 and 19 years, to improve the their health and to prevent nutritional deficiencies. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Public Instruction and Women and Child Development Department are involved in implementing the programme. Worm infestation among children causes nutritional deficiences, Vitamin A deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, anaemia, abdonominal pain, and diarrhoea.
The DHO said children, who are affected by hookworms, whip worms and round worms come across problems of lack of concentration and weakness as the parasitic worms suck nutrients from the consumed food.
“The infestation of worms can be avoided by maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene. Also, clean water and food should be consumed. The fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before consuming. Hands should be washed before consuming food,” Rao added.
The school dropouts will be provided tablets through Asha, anganwadi and junior health assistants on February 14.
“Deworming tablets will be distributed for free in all government, aided and un-aided schools. The tablets should be taken after mid-day meals and the nodal officer in the schools have been asked to consume the tablet before children. The tables should be consumed by chewing,” Rao said.
Half tablet (200 mg) should be given to children between one and two years, he added.
He said through DDPI a circular has been issued to all the schools in the district to make the children consume the tablet. Those children who are suffering from fever and abdominal pain need not be given the tablet on February 8.
The DHO said for the first time ITI students will be covered under the campaign in the State. Last year, the Dakshina Kannada district had achieved 98% success in deworming campaign by administering tablets to 4,96,258 children out of the total 5,06,941 children, Rao said.