ITANAGAR, Feb 22: National Deworming Day (NDD) was launched across the state on Saturday for children and youths between the ages of 1 and 19 years to improve their overall health.
The observation of NDD will continue for four days, from 22 to 25 February.
Launching the programme at the Doimukh CHC, Papum Pare DMO, Dr Subu Tasso Kampu, asked medical officers to actively monitor and supervise all auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM), accredited social health activists (ASHA) and anganwadi workers (AWW) engaged in the implementation of the NDD programme “and ensure that no beneficiary is left out.”
She urged everyone, including ANMs, ASHAs and AWWs, to “work with missionary zeal at the community level in order to achieve better performance as compared to last year’s 94 percent coverage in the district.”
Dr Kampu stressed on creating awareness among the people regarding doses of deworming medicines, their benefits, and their negligible effects. She called for properly maintaining health and hygiene to avoid worm infestations.
In Longding, DC Cheshta Yadav launched the programme at the community health centre there.
DPM Lai Bangang informed that there are around 26,734 targeted children in the entire district, while DRCHO Dr Neyang Nitik informed that “hundreds of people have been put to task to ensure that the target of hundred percent deworming is achieved in the four-day programme.”
Noting the shortage of beds during her visit to the Pongchau PHC, Yadav directed DMO Dr K Ngemu to send hospital beds to the PHC “on top priority.”
In Kamle district, Raga ADC C Chukhu launched the NDD programme at the VKV there, in the presence of the school’s principal, teachers and students, besides DRCHO Dr Kapu Sopin and medical staff. Medical staffers, ASHAs and AWWs will be engaged in the NDD programme at all the schools and anganwadi centres in the villages across the district.
In Khonsa, Tirap DC PN Thungon launched the NDD programme at the Don Bosco Youth Centre by administering Albendazole tablets to over 100 eligible children.
Thungon advised all to maintain personal hygiene and sanitation practices in their daily life.
DMO Dr K Mossang appealed to parents to come forward and ensure that all eligible children are administered a dose of Albendazole tablet on NDD. (DIPROs)
