National Deworming Day 2024:- National Deworming Day is celebrated all over India on the 10th of February this day is dedicated to deworming all the school-going children of the country to give them a healthy digestive system. On February 10th, the government held a mission to reduce worm infections among kids.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL DEWORMING DAY
To combat the situation of worm infection in India, the Indian government (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) launched National Deworming Day (NDD) in February 2015. This program aims to deworm all children from 1 to 19 years old and improve their well-being.
To run the program successfully and to achieve the goal, all the school teachers and workers are provided with special training and resource material. It has emerged as the world’s largest public health campaign preventing children from intestinal parasitic worms.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is responsible for providing all States and UTs the benefits of this program. Other stakeholders are the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Urban Development, Rural Development, Tribal Welfare,
The target of this program in 2016 was to cover approximately 27 crore children. Along with administering albendazole tablets, some other activities are also performed such as behavior change practices, cleanliness and hygiene guide, use of toilets, wearing shoes or slippers, washing hands before eating food and after using a toilet, etc in order to reduce the incidents of re-infection.
Why is National Deworming Day observed?
Our country celebrates National Deworming Day to prevent worm infections among children through good habits and deworming medications. Children are the future of the nation; they must be healthy and happy in all senses.
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organizes National Deworming Day to make people aware of worm infections. Worm infection can make children anemic, malnourished, weak, sick, and tired with poor concentration.
This campaign is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in all the schools and preschools (Anganwadis) across India on the 10th of February. This program involves the use of albendazole (400 mg) to combat parasitic worm infections in school-going children (preschool, school). National Deworming Day is a chewable tablet distributed to children at all government, government-aided, and private schools including Anganwadis.
some states in India have more STH prevalence such as,
- High prevalence (>50%) states are Arunachal Pradesh, UP, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, J&K, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, Assam, Uttarakhand, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
- Moderate prevalence (20% – 50%) states are Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar, Bihar, Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Gujarat, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Tripura.
- So, in order to ensure the safety of children from worm infections, deworming is very necessary.
What is Special in National Deworming Day 2024
Deworming tablets will be given free of cost to all children (1 to 19 years) on the 10th of February to ensure that all the children are dewormed. Those who did not attend the event will be given tablets on the 15th of February as a ‘mop-up day’.
Children of the age group (1 to 19 years) are provided with tablets in their schools. Other children, who are unregistered or out of school, will also receive tablets at the Anganwadi.
Children of age group 1 to 2 years are given half of the tablet (albendazole 400mg) with water, and children above 2 years are given 1 full tablet (albendazole 400mg) to chew.
GOAL OF THIS CAMPAIGN
The major goal of the campaign is to deworm all school-going children. For kids to get a quality life in the future, it helps improve their cognitive development.
Infection through parasitic worms (soil-transmitted helminths-STH) is a very famous infection in children and among the most common infections worldwide.
STH attacks and lives in the human intestine, consumes nutrients, and lays thousands of eggs each day which goes out through feces and spreads causing infection to others through the soil. It is more common for children to open defecate and sanitation is poor.
WHY DO CHILDREN IN INDIA NEED DEWORMING?
Worm infection is very harmful, especially in kids, which interferes with the mental and physical health of the children and puts their future at risk.
In order to maintain children’s health, education, and productivity, the government must deworm them. Infected children easily get sick, tired, and lose their concentration level.
In terms of achieving high take-up of preventive healthcare, tablets for deworming are a very safe and cost-effective method. A huge population of children in India is at high risk of soil-transmitted helminths than in other countries in the world.
According to the survey of National Family Health in 2006, it is very common in rural areas where 7 out of 10 children are anemic and need special treatment.
How is National Deworming Day celebrated?
A national deworming day is celebrated all across the country by distributing deworming tablets to children (from 1 to 19 years) at all schools, pre-schools, and Anganwadis.
Physical and mental health and safety of the children are of utmost importance, so deworming tablets are very safe with mild side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Government staff including teachers, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and other officials get involved very actively in making this mission successful. Educational materials are provided that provide information about all aspects of deworming.
PRACTICES – PROMOTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE WORM INFECTIONS
- Never use open defecation, always use a toilet for defecation.
- Always trim nails to keep them short and clean.
- Always keep the surrounding areas neat and clean.
- Always wear shoes or slippers especially while using the toilet.
- Always drink clean water and safe food.
- Never keep food uncovered.
- Never eat fruits and raw vegetables without washing them with clean water.
NATIONAL DEWORMING DAY SLOGAN AND THEME OF 2024
“Eliminate STH: Invest in a healthier future for children”.
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| February Social Events | Date of Celebration |
| World Wetlands Day | 2nd February |
| World Cancer Day | 4th February |
| National Deworming Day | 10th February |
| Valentine’s Day | 14th February |
| Central Excise Day | 24th February |
| National Science Day | 28th February |