The Department of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the district administration conducted a massive drive to mark the National De-worming Day in the district here today.The objective of the programme was to de-worm the children in the age group of 1-19 years at schools and anganwadi centres.District Development Commissioner, Mohammad Aijaz, inaugurated the de-worming drive at Government Higher Secondary School Ramban by distributing the medicine among the students.Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that India has the highest burden of soil-transmitted helminths--parasitic worms--in the world. Parasitic worms in children interfere with nutrient uptake and can cause anaemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development, he added.
Chief Medical Officer informed that more than 2000 officials of health department have been engaged in this drive besides anganwadi workers, school teachers and PHE workers across the district are rendering their services to make this event a grand success. All these officials have been imparted necessary training for conducting de-worming drive in the district by the experts of the health department.The drive is carried out in all medical blocks of the district in which respective Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDM) inaugurated the drive.Meanwhile, similar programme was also organized by Bharatiya Vidya Mandir (BVM) High School Ramban in which Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Principal of the school distributed medicine among the students.