The district-level launch of the second round of National Deworming Day was held at Government Middle School, Salangtem, Mokokchung, on Monday.
During the programme, Dr Limanaro, DPO (UIP & RCH), administered the first Albendazole tablet and sensitised students on the objectives and importance of deworming. She said the programme aims to improve children’s overall health, nutritional status, access to education and quality of life, targeting children aged 1 to 19 years.
Dr Limanaro said children are particularly vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths through playing barefoot, open defecation, unclean hands, contaminated food and dirty water. She highlighted common signs of worm infection, including malnutrition, anaemia, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and itching around the bottom area.
Emphasising the importance of cleanliness, she said proper hygiene can help prevent worm infections. She also highlighted the benefits of deworming, including reducing anaemia, improving nutritional status and physical and mental development, enhancing learning and school participation, and improving attendance.
Following the launch programme, Albendazole tablets were administered to the students. A health check-up was subsequently conducted by the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team, Mokokchung.
