<p>Shivamogga: District Health Officer Nataraj has urged all children aged between one and 19 in the district to take deworming tablets to eliminate worms which hinder children’s overall development. </p><p>He was speaking at the National Deworming Day programme organised at the Rotary East School in Shivamogga on Monday by the district administration, zilla panchayat, Health and Family Welfare Department, National Health Mission, School Education & Literacy Department, Women and Child Development Department, Pre-university Education Department, Social Welfare Department, taluk health officers’ office, and Rotary East School.</p><p>He said children should receive the deworming tablet Albendazole from teachers and swallow it after chewing. Children aged between 1 and 2 years should be given half a tablet (crushed) while children aged between 2 and 19 years must take one tablet. Children who have previously taken deworming tablets must take them again as part of the campaign.</p><p>He said worm infections can cause anaemia, nutritional deficiencies, lack of appetite, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhoea, and concentration issues in studies among children. Therefore, children should take deworming tablets every six months. Additionally, hands should be washed with soap before meals, and cleanliness should be prioritised to prevent infections.</p><p><strong>4.7 lakh registrations</strong></p><p>Reproductive Child Health Officer O Mallappa stated 4,70,316 children have registered in the district and teachers and ASHA workers provided tablets to children in anganwadis, schools, and colleges. School dropouts were given the tablets through home visits. For children who missed taking the deworming tablet on December 9, a mop-up round will be conducted on December 16, 2024, to achieve a 100% target, he explained.</p><p>He said globally, 1.5 billion people including over 610 million in India suffer from worm problems. Worms mainly cause malnutrition and hinder children’s overall development. Therefore, deworming is essential. The deworming programme also supports reducing maternal and child mortality.</p><p>“According to a 2015 survey in the state, 49% of children under 19 suffer from anaemia due to worms. Since 2015, deworming tablets have been administered twice a year reducing infection rates to 0.22%. To prevent worm infections. Hands should be washed with soap before meals, nails should be trimmed, open defecation should be stopped, and toilets should be used mandatorily. The environment should be kept clean,” he suggested.</p><p><strong>‘Maintain cleanliness’</strong></p><p>Presiding over the event, Rotary East Education and Charitable Trust Managing Trustee Chandrasekharaiah M emphasised that development is possible with improvements in education and health sectors in society.</p><p>Worms are parasitic organisms that do not allow the host to grow. Therefore, precautions should be taken. Open defecation should be stopped as worms can enter the body through feet, vegetables, and air, absorbing all nutrients and causing anaemia. Maintaining cleanliness is crucial, equating cleanliness with divinity. The rate of anaemia is higher among women, and they should be educated and take safety measures. Awareness should be raised at home among children, he said.</p><p>District Surveillance Officer Nagaraj Naik, District Malaria Control Officer Gudappa Kasabi, District Leprosy Control Officer Kiran, District Family Welfare Officer Venkatesh, Taluk Health Officer Chandrashekhar, Rotary East Treasurer Vijaykumar, Rotary East English School Principal Suryanarayana, health department officials, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and students were present.</p><p>District Health Education Officer Doddaveerappa welcomed the gathering. Rotary East Education Secretary Ramachandra SV proposed the vote of thanks. </p>
<p>Shivamogga: District Health Officer Nataraj has urged all children aged between one and 19 in the district to take deworming tablets to eliminate worms which hinder children’s overall development. </p><p>He was speaking at the National Deworming Day programme organised at the Rotary East School in Shivamogga on Monday by the district administration, zilla panchayat, Health and Family Welfare Department, National Health Mission, School Education & Literacy Department, Women and Child Development Department, Pre-university Education Department, Social Welfare Department, taluk health officers’ office, and Rotary East School.</p><p>He said children should receive the deworming tablet Albendazole from teachers and swallow it after chewing. Children aged between 1 and 2 years should be given half a tablet (crushed) while children aged between 2 and 19 years must take one tablet. Children who have previously taken deworming tablets must take them again as part of the campaign.</p><p>He said worm infections can cause anaemia, nutritional deficiencies, lack of appetite, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhoea, and concentration issues in studies among children. Therefore, children should take deworming tablets every six months. Additionally, hands should be washed with soap before meals, and cleanliness should be prioritised to prevent infections.</p><p><strong>4.7 lakh registrations</strong></p><p>Reproductive Child Health Officer O Mallappa stated 4,70,316 children have registered in the district and teachers and ASHA workers provided tablets to children in anganwadis, schools, and colleges. School dropouts were given the tablets through home visits. For children who missed taking the deworming tablet on December 9, a mop-up round will be conducted on December 16, 2024, to achieve a 100% target, he explained.</p><p>He said globally, 1.5 billion people including over 610 million in India suffer from worm problems. Worms mainly cause malnutrition and hinder children’s overall development. Therefore, deworming is essential. The deworming programme also supports reducing maternal and child mortality.</p><p>“According to a 2015 survey in the state, 49% of children under 19 suffer from anaemia due to worms. Since 2015, deworming tablets have been administered twice a year reducing infection rates to 0.22%. To prevent worm infections. Hands should be washed with soap before meals, nails should be trimmed, open defecation should be stopped, and toilets should be used mandatorily. The environment should be kept clean,” he suggested.</p><p><strong>‘Maintain cleanliness’</strong></p><p>Presiding over the event, Rotary East Education and Charitable Trust Managing Trustee Chandrasekharaiah M emphasised that development is possible with improvements in education and health sectors in society.</p><p>Worms are parasitic organisms that do not allow the host to grow. Therefore, precautions should be taken. Open defecation should be stopped as worms can enter the body through feet, vegetables, and air, absorbing all nutrients and causing anaemia. Maintaining cleanliness is crucial, equating cleanliness with divinity. The rate of anaemia is higher among women, and they should be educated and take safety measures. Awareness should be raised at home among children, he said.</p><p>District Surveillance Officer Nagaraj Naik, District Malaria Control Officer Gudappa Kasabi, District Leprosy Control Officer Kiran, District Family Welfare Officer Venkatesh, Taluk Health Officer Chandrashekhar, Rotary East Treasurer Vijaykumar, Rotary East English School Principal Suryanarayana, health department officials, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and students were present.</p><p>District Health Education Officer Doddaveerappa welcomed the gathering. Rotary East Education Secretary Ramachandra SV proposed the vote of thanks. </p>
