The Government of Delhi, India have announced it will carry out its second round of school-based deworming, expected to cover 3.6 million children in over 4000 government, municipal and cantonment schools.
While inaugurating this second deworming drive, Delhi's Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Walia said that in order to treat children with worms effectively, a sustainable approach should be invested in health and sanitation.
Soil-transmitted helminths are the most common infestations in school-age children from poor communities which lead to anaemia, malnutrition, retarded physical and mental development, reduced educational achievement and productivity as adults.
School Health in Delhi
Delhi's deworming programme was launched in February 2012 and reached 2.7 million children under the landmark Chacha Nehru Sehat Yojana (CNSY), an initiative aimed at providing free and comprehensive health services to all school-age children in the capital.
The programme's second drive will see deworming tablets and syrups given to to school-age children at government, municipal and cantonment schools on a 'Deworming Day', and to ensure all children are reached, a second "mop-up day" will target those who missed deworming medication on the first day.
Programme Support
The programme has been supported by the
World Health Organisation who have donated 400,000 deworming tablets,
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) who have provided financial support and
Deworm the World and its India partner, Action Foundation for Social Services (AFSS) who have provided technical support.
