Chamba: Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal on Wednesday said that all eligible children in the district will be administered deworming medicine on February 23 under the National Deworming Day campaign.
Chairing a meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Repaswal said children in the age group of 1 to 19 years will be given albendazole tablets through schools and Anganwadi centres to improve their health and nutritional status. Children up to five years of age will also be provided Vitamin A supplements.
He stressed that every eligible child should be covered under the campaign.
The Deputy Commissioner said worm infections in children can occur due to consumption of contaminated water, playing in mud and eating without washing hands. Such infections may cause anaemia, malnutrition and hamper mental and physical development.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jalam Singh Bhardwaj said Vitamin A doses are administered to children below five years to prevent eye-related diseases, while albendazole is given to those aged 1–19 years. He added that children who miss the dose on February 23 can take it on the make-up day scheduled for February 28.
District Development Officer Devendra Chinoria, District Panchayat Officer Tilak Kumar, District Programme Officer (Health) Dr. Karna Hiteshi, MOH Dr. Kavita Mahajan, OSD Umakant and other officials attended the meeting.
