New Delhi: Millions of Indian children are getting deworming treatment in a massive national campaign to prevent parasitic worms from infecting them and impairing their mental and physical development.
In a village on the outskirts of the Indian capital, New Delhi, children washed their hands, lined up, and chewed deworming tablets, given to them by their teachers and health workers, before they sat down to study, on Wednesday,
The campaign is targeting 270 million children across the country. For this purpose, there will be another round of deworming medicine distribution next week, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
Worms interfere with nutrient absorption and can lead to anaemia, malnourishment and physical and mental impairment.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 220 million children between the ages of one and 14 are at risk of parasitic worm infection in India.
On Wednesday, nearly 900,000 teachers, principals and health workers were mobilised in schools and government-sponsored child and mother care centres.
Priya Jha, who leads non-governmental organisation Evidence Action’s work in India, said details of a second dose to the children would be decided soon by the Indian government on the basis of a study carried out in different states.
She said the campaign went off smoothly with children and their parents eager to participate. The tablets were provided by WHO and the Indian government.
Parasitic worm infections are mainly caused by lack of proper toilets, unclean drinking water, poor hygiene and dirty surroundings in India.