Varanasi: Around 18.5 lakh boys and girls aged 1 to 19 years will be administered Albendazole tablets under National Deworming Campaign in the district on Aug 14.The medicine will be given to the students of govt, recognised and private schools and madrasas with the support of teachers. Those who miss the dose would be covered in the mop-up round to be held on Aug 18.Chief medical officer Dr N P Singh said that worm infection in the intestines can lead to malnutrition and anaemia among children, affecting their physical growth. Deworming helps improve children’s health and nutritional status, supports anaemia control and enhances immunity and learning ability. He appealed to parents to ensure that their children receive Albendazole on the scheduled date.Additional chief medical officer and nodal officer of the programme, Dr Sanjay Rai, said that around 7.4 lakh children in urban areas and 11.1 lakh children in rural areas have been targeted under the campaign. Necessary arrangements have been made at 3,914 Anganwadi centres and 2,853 govt, recognised and private schools and madrasas for distribution of the medicine.The CMO said that in rural areas, doctors from RBSK teams and, in urban areas, doctors from Urban PHCs, along with all ANMs and ASHA workers, will support the campaign. Children who do not attend school and children of brick kiln workers will also be covered under the campaign.Children aged 1 to 2 years will be given half a tablet of Albendazole, while children above 2 years of age will be given one full tablet. Dr Rai added that a mop-up round will be organised on Aug 18 for those who miss the dose on Aug 14 to ensure 100% coverage.
