**Bhubaneswar: ** On the occasion of National Deworming Day (NDD), the bi-annual round campaign for Odisha on April 4 (Wednesday) aims to deworm 1.3 crore children from 1 to 19 years of age in the 30 districts of the State involving four government departments, Health & Family Welfare (W&FW), Women and Child Development (WCD), Panchayati Raj and SC/ST Welfare, working together.
Speaking at the media briefing on the National Deworming Day in Odisha, Director Family Welfare Dr Kamalakanta Das said, “This year under the National Deworming Day, Odisha Government aims to reach approximately 1.3 crore children across all 30 districts. In six districts where there is a prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis, we are combining the NDD round with Mass Drug Administration campaign through door to door visits.”
“This strategy will help us in not just improving nutrition of children by combating worm infestation transmitted through soil, but also elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, infestation acquired during childhood but manifested in adults that can cause or permanent disability,” the Family Welfare Director said.
In Odisha, the State Government has combined the NDD rounds with Vitamin A supplementation for all children from 9 months to 5 years. This year’s round is also combined with combating Lymphatic Filariasis in six districts of high prevalence namely, Angul, Deogarh, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda and Nayagarh, a press release by the State Government said.
As a strategy, teachers and Anganwadi workers are trained by the State Government and the deworming drug is given to them to administer to children at school and Anganwadis.
Any child who is not dewormed on National Deworming Day (April 4) due to sickness or absenteeism will be administered the tablet on April 11, the press release also stated.
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