B’pora Admin targets to De-Worm 1.48 lac Children this year

Administration gears up to achieve the target; preparatory meeting for National Deworming day discusses Plan

BANDIPORA, MAR 08 – The District Administration Bandipora on Wednesday reviewed the preparation for the upcoming National Deworming day besides reviewing the performance of the last year.

Nodal officer Coordination, M A Hakak chaired the meeting to review preparations while Chief Medical Officer Bashir Ahmad Khan, Deputy Chief Education Officer Mohammad Rafiq and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

During the meeting, the officers informed that the first round of National Deworming Day (NDD) will be celebrated on March 13th which will be followed by Mop-up Day on March 20th instead of February as the schools were closed for winter vacations.

CMO Bandipora informed that last year the district achieved 84 per cent target of providing de-worming tablets to the children with active support from education department, Asha and Anganwari workers. He said more than 94k children were provided Albendazole tablets.

It was further given out that this year the district has set the target to provide de-worming tablets to 1.48 lac childrens across the district and the Albendazole tablets have already been received and disbursed to all blocks including snowbound Gurez valley.

CMO Bandipora said in the first phase all schools, Anganwadi centres, and madrassas shall be covered and the Asha workers, anganwadi workers, teachers have been deputed to provide de-worming tablets while mop program shall be carried till March 26th so that no child is left out.

On the occasion M A Hakak stressed on the teachers and health officials to create awareness among the students regarding NDD, the benefits of cleanliness and ensure that cleanliness is maintained in schools. He said that the education department has a vital role in awareness among the children about hygienic lifestyles.

He while highlighting the significance of the programme stressed for better coordination for the overall success of the campaign and exhorted upon educating people at grassroots levels and said that other vulnerable sections should be included in the programme.

The Nodal Officer called for concerted efforts to make the entire state free from Soil Transmitted Helminths, and to give emphasis on sanitation, cleanliness and for developing effective IEC strategies for community awareness and mobilization during National Deworming Day.

He stressed on the officials to give wide publicity to the program so that all parents ensure that their kids are provided this tablet at schools during this week-long campaign.

He appealed to the people to bring their children to the nearest health centre besides Anganwari centres and educational institutions to make the programme a success.

During the meeting, the officers discussed various issues that hinder the smooth conduct of the program. The chair asked them to work in coordination to ensure all bottlenecks are removed.