Hyderabad: The state govt conducted the National Deworming Day drive on Monday and achieved 93.29% of its target, with albendazole tablets administered to over 90.3 lakh children against the target of 96.8 lakh, according to the health officials.The drive was conducted across govt and private schools, Anganwadi centres and other educational institutions. Health and family welfare commissioner Dr Sangeetha Satyanarayana said that children who missed the tablets on Monday will be covered during the mop-up round scheduled for July 20, so that the state achieves 100% coverage.Meanwhile, health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha said that achieving more than 93% of the target on the first day reflected the coordinated efforts of all departments.He further instructed officials to identify every child who missed the tablets and ensure they are covered during the July 20 mop-up round so that the state achieves complete coverage under the National Deworming Day programme.Albendazole tablets help remove intestinal worms, which can affect a child’s nutrition, growth and overall health. Deworming also improves the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, strengthens immunity and supports better physical growth, learning and concentration. Officials appealed to parents to ensure that children who missed the first round receive the tablets during the mop-up drive.
