Bhubaneswar: The State government has plans to administer Albendazole tablets and suspension to children between the ages of 1 and 19 and women of reproductive ages between 20-24 as a part of National De-worming Day, August 2024.
This initiative will be coordinated by the Department of Health and Family Welfare along with the Department of Women and Child Development, Department of School and Mass Education, ST and SC Department, and Panchayati Raj Department. The departments are conducting the biannual mass deworming across the State in all Schools and Anganwadi centres.
In a letter to all Collectors and commissioners of five municipal corporations, the Health department directed to take steps for intensive awareness activities on the benefits of Albendazole and the adoption of water sanitation and Hygiene practices.
Administering Albendazole tablets uniformly on a single day aims to eliminate Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) infections in this vulnerable age group. STH is caused by parasitic worms that are transmitted through contaminated soil, causing infections in humans.
This year, the National Deworming Day (NDD) August 2024 round will be held on August 10 and Mop Up Day will be held on August 17 in 19 districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jagatsighpur, Kendrapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, Nabrangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada and Puri.
Under NDD, children aged 1-19 years and Women of Reproductive Age 20-24years (Non-pregnant, Non-lactating) shall be provided with Albendazole (suspension / tablet) at schools, Anganwadi centres by teachers and Anganwadi workers.
Similarly, the Lymphatic Filariasis Mass Drug Administration will be implemented in some blocks of 11 districts.
