Deworming Day on April 10 in Meghalaya

SHILLONG, April 6: The Health & Family Welfare department of Meghalaya Government and the tiol Health Mission is launching a one-day school based programme to ensure intensive deworming coverage and targeted outreach in all districts on April 10.

However, for those children who may not be dewormed on Deworming Day, their cases will be taken up on April 18.

Deworming tablet – Albendazole – will be given free of cost to all children in the age group of 1 to 19 years in government schools and government aided schools and in Anganwadi centers for out-of-school children.

Children in the age group of 1-2 years are given half a tablet of Albendazole (400mg), and above the age of 2 years are given 1 full tablet of Albendazole (400mg) to chew. 

tiol Deworming Day is a groundbreaking initiative focused on reducing the threat of parasitic worm infestations, a widespread health issue affecting over 241 children in India alone. India has the highest burden of soil-transmitted helminths – parasitic worms – in the world. Worm infestations can cause anemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development; and may cause a serious threat to children’s health, education and productivity.

Timely and high quality mass-based deworming programme for children of pre-school and school age children in India is expected to dramatically reduce the harm caused by parasitic worm infections in millions of children in India.

The State Health department and the tiol Health Mission have urged all the parents of children in the age group of 1 to 19 years who have not been dewormed to come forward and avail the services provided for them.