Delhi government today launched the second-ever mass deworming of children, which is expected to cover 3.6 million children in anganwadis, government, municipal and cantonment schools.
While inaugurating the drive, Delhi Health Minister AK Walia also released a report on the first round of mass deworming, carried out in February, 2012.
Last year's campaign had covered 2.7 million children.
As part of the programme, deworming tablets and syrups will be given to pre-school children at anganwadis and to school-age children at government, municipal and cantonment schools on 'Deworming Day'. There will also be a "mop-up day" for those who missed the medicine on the first day.
The programme was launched last year under the landmark Chacha Nehru Sehat Yojana (CNSY) aimed at providing free and comprehensive health services to all school-age children in the capital.
Last year, the programme facilitated a donation of 40 lakh deworming tablets through the World Health Organisation (WHO) through financial support from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF).
The programme has received technical support from global non-profit body, 'Deworm the World Initiative (DtWI)' and its India partner, Action Foundation for Social Services (AFSS).
For this year, DtWI has facilitated a donation of 37 lakh albendazole tablets. Another 15 lakh tablets in syrup form have been procured by the Delhi government for the pre-school age group.
Soil-transmitted worms are the commonest infestations in pre-school and school-age children from poor communities.
These infestations lead to anaemia, malnutrition, retarded physical and mental development, reduced educational achievement and reduced productivity as adults.
Over 4,000 government, municipal, NDMC and cantonment schools will participate in the programme, which is set to cover about 3.6 million children. Over 11,000 anganwadi centres will cover another one million pre-school children.
