Deworming, vitamin A drives from Aug 12
During the period, lymphatic filariasis-mass drug administration (LF-MDA) programme will be implemented in selected districts to stop the spread of the disease. The deworming programme will administer Albendazole to over 1.26 crore children aged 1 to 19 years and more than 15 lakh women of reproductive age (20-24) across all 30 districts. This includes 4,01,081 children aged 1-2 in 12 LF-MDA districts, 2,339,102 children aged 1-5 years in NDD districts, and 9,906,433 children aged 6 to 19.
The biannual VAS programme will cover an estimated 32 lakh children aged 9-60 months, boosting immunity and reducing child mortality and morbidity. Dr Rajyashree Patnaik, director of family welfare, said the NDD plays a crucial role in safeguarding children's health and reducing anaemia in young women. "Deworming improves nutritional uptake and boosts school attendance, positively impacting education and productivity," she added.
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LF-MDA will be implemented in 12 districts: Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Sundargarh. In these districts, children aged 1-2 years will also receive deworming medication.
The initiative will involve govt, govt-aided and private schools, as well as anganwadi centres. Teachers, anganwadi and Asha workers will actively participate in drug administration.
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