Varanasi: On the occasion of National Deworming Day, chief medical officer Dr NP Singh launched the district-level campaign on Friday at Government Girls’ Inter College (GGIC), Maldahiya by administering Albendazole tablets to girl students.The CMO said that worm infection in children can adversely affect their health and nutrition. It may lead to weakness, malnutrition and anaemia, and can also impact their physical and mental development. He said regular deworming helps improve children’s health and nutrition, supports anaemia control, strengthens immunity and enhances learning ability. He appealed to parents to ensure that their children take Albendazole as per the scheduled programme.Additional CMO and nodal officer Dr Sanjay Rai informed that around 9.50 lakh children in Varanasi district were administered Albendazole under the National Deworming Day campaign. He said the medicine is being provided through schools as well as Anganwadi centres. Children who do not attend school and children of labourers working at brick kilns have also been included in the campaign.Dr Rai said children aged 1-19 years are given Albendazole under the campaign. Health and education departments, Anganwadi workers, ANMs, ASHAs and other concerned personnel are extending support in the campaign.He further informed that a mop-up round will be organised on August 18 for children who missed taking the medicine on August 14. The aim is to ensure that maximum children benefit from deworming treatment.
