Events, seminar mark Deworming Day

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 10

National Deworming Day was observed at Arya Senior Secondary School on the 120 Feet Road at Basti Nau wherein Civil Surgeon Raghubir Singh Randhawa administered Albendazole tablets to students. In a function held at the community hall of the school, the Civil Surgeon while addressing students said worms in the stomach cause anaemia, malnourishment, weakness and lack of concentration during studies.

Students of various schools across the district were given the tablets.

He said due to the lack of cleanliness, consumption of unhygienic food and raw vegetables and defecation in the open, a person falls prey to worms. He said for its eradication, the government observes Deworming Day twice a year for students between the ages of 1 to 19 years and all students of schools and anganwari centres are being given these medicines and as per the drive, iron and folic acid tablets were also given once a week to free the body of anaemia.

He said the tablets should not be consumed on an empty stomach due to which these were given only after the mid-day meal to the students.

Dr Tarsem Singh, District Immunisation Officer-cum-Nodal Officer, said those students who have missed out the tablets today would be given the same on August 17 during the mop-up round.

Harinder Pal, Deputy DEO, Elementary, also expressed his thoughts.

Dr Sahib Singh, principal; Sarika, mass media officer; Purshottam Lal, mass media officer; and Paramveer Jhamat, district RBSK coordinator, were among those others present.

Meanwhile, Deworming Day was also observed in Kapurthala. District Immunisation Officer Asha Mangat said this while addressing a national seminar being organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kapurthala.

During an event organised on the instructions of Civil Surgeon Harpreet Singh Kahlon, albendazole tablets were given to students. Dr Mangat said due to worms in the stomach, there was a deficiency of haemoglobin among children.

She said there was a target to administer tablets to as many as 1,73,557 children in anganwaris and government-aided and private schools in the district.

She said those children who would be left out would be covered and given tablets during the mop-up drive on August 17. Besides, students were also told to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, washing hands before eating and after going to toilet and to keep their nails clean. Medical officer Amandeep Singh said most of the children in the country suffer from anemia.

He said children should be administered medicines to clear out worms at least twice in a year. He also encouraged students to consume a lot of seasonal vegetables and stay away from junk food.

Guracharan Singh, DEO Primary, said students should consume medicines twice a year and should also spread awareness among their families regarding benefits of the tablets.

Vice-principal Devinder Kaur, Dr Jasmine, Dr Bhoomeshawari, district BCC Jyoti Anand and Ravinder Jassal were also present.