Latest news with #NDD
Hans India
13-08-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Albendazole drive held to curb anaemia in children
Tirupati: The district observed National Deworming Day (NDD) on Tuesday with a massive outreach programme targeting students aged 1 to 19 years across schools and colleges. The initiative, aimed at ensuring the good health and well-being of children, seeks to combat anaemia and improve overall health among the young population. District Collector Dr S Venkateswar formally inaugurated the programme by administering Albendazole tablets to students at Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Municipal Corporation High School in Korlagunta. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed that good health is as essential as education for students' growth and success. He announced that 4,97,511 students in the district's target group will receive Albendazole deworming tablets. Explaining the ill-effects of intestinal worms in children, the Collector said that students who were absent on Tuesday will be given the tablets on August 20, designated as the 'Mop-up Day'. District Medical and Health Officer Dr V Balakrishna Naik said the programme was being conducted in coordination with Anganwadi centres, schools, and colleges, involving ASHA workers, ANMs, school teachers, and anganwadi staff. He added that apart from deworming, children are being educated on anaemia prevention, personal handwashing habits, worm prevention measures, and the importance of avoiding open defecation by using toilets. The event was attended by District Education Officer Kumar, State Nodal Officers Dr Srinivasa Varma and Dr Soujanya Lakshmi, DPMO Dr Srinivasa Rao, RBSK Programme Officer Dr Reddy Prasad, UPHC Medical Officer Dr Sindhu, Deputy DEMOs Kiran Kumar and Khaja Vali, RBSK Manager Gunasekhar, Headmaster Ravi, and several teachers and staff members.
The Hindu
11-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Over 3 lakh children to be administered deworming tablets in Eluru district
The National Deworming Day (NDD) programme will be held in Eluru district on August 12 (Tuesday) covering all children between the ages 1 and 19 across anganwadi centres, government and government-aided primary, upper primary, high schools, intermediate colleges, ITIs, and first-year degree colleges. Eluru DM&HO P.J. Amrutam in a press release on Monday said that a total of 3,76,263 children will be administered Albendazole tablets to eliminate intestinal worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, with the aim of improving their overall health and development. Children between the age of 1 to 2 would be given half a tablet (200 mg), while those between 2 and 19 full tablet (400 mg). The programme will be implemented through ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, and ANMs in primary and upper primary schools, and through male and female health supervisors in high schools, residential schools, ashram schools, model schools, KGBVs, gurukuls, minority institutions, intermediate colleges, and degree colleges. The tablets will be given after lunch. Teachers, cooks, and staff will be given the tablets first, followed by the students. For those absent on August 12, a 'Mop-up Day' will be conducted on August 20 to ensure complete coverage. The initiative will be monitored at the primary health centre (PHC) level by medical officers and at the mandal level by Mandal Education Officers and CDPOs (Anganwadi Project Officers). Departments including Education, Medical and Health, Women and Child Welfare, Rural Development, Zilla Parishad, Municipal Commissioners, Welfare Hostel authorities, and other concerned officials will participate to ensure 100 per cent implementation of the programme, she added.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Deworming, vitamin A drives from Aug 12
Bhubaneswar: The health and family welfare department, in collaboration with Unicef, will launch the 'National Deworming Day' (NDD) and 'vitamin A supplementation' (VAS) programmes across the state on Aug 12 to improve child health, combat anaemia and fight parasitic worm infections. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo 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. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
07-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
State targets 96 lakh children for deworming drive on August 11
Telangana is preparing to observe National Deworming Day (NDD) on August 11 with a target of administering Albendazole (400g) tablets to nearly 96 lakh children aged between 1 and 19 years. The campaign is aimed at eliminating Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) infections, which are commonly caused by parasitic worms found in contaminated soil. Health officials stated that uniform administration of Albendazole across the State on a single day is key to controlling the spread of STH among children and adolescents. Deworming has been shown to reduce anaemia, improve nutritional uptake, reduce worm-related illnesses, lower school absenteeism, and enhance overall cognitive and physical performance. As per the guidelines, half a tablet will be crushed and administered to children between the ages of one and two, while one full crushed tablet will be given to those aged between two and three years. Children aged three to 19 years will receive one chewable Albendazole tablet. The distribution will take place at Anganwadi centres, government and private schools, colleges, vocational institutions, and community locations to ensure inclusion of out-of-school children. To ensure no child is left out, a mop-up round is scheduled for August 18 for those who miss the initial dose. Hyderabad District Collector Hari Chandana Dasari chaired a meeting with officials on Thursday to review preparedness and called for the drafting of a detailed action plan. The Collector stressed the need for 100% coverage, particularly among children who are already on medication, and asked officials to pay special attention to their needs during the drive.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Community-designed toolkit launched in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to raise awareness of childhood NDDs
With South Asia reporting the highest global prevalence of childhood neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs), a new regional initiative is aiming to evaluate this pressing issue of delayed diagnosis and care through community-driven solutions. The work published in June as a manuscript titled, 'Co-designing a community engagement toolkit to raise awareness of screening and care for neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka' was led by a group of 13 researchers who developed a Community Engagement Toolkit, in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, that is designed to improve early detection and family support for children with developmental delays, including autism and intellectual disability. The toolkit, part of the larger NAMASTE programme (Neurodevelopment and Autism in South Asia Treatment and Evidence), was developed using participatory research involving 185 individuals. These included 94 caregivers, 68 non-specialist health workers, 14 specialist service providers, and 9 autistic adults, who participated in interviews and co-design workshops across Delhi, Goa, Lalitpur (Nepal), and Colombo (Sri Lanka). A regional need for early detection South Asia is estimated to have the highest prevalence of developmental disabilities worldwide, with 1.2 million children under the age of five living with autism and another 3.9 million with intellectual disability. Yet early detection remains low due to stigma, myths, and gaps in both caregiver knowledge and public health messaging. Many families reported delays even when they had regular access to health services. A 57-year-old mother from Goa who participated in the research, said, 'My paediatrician must have seen the signs, but he was not telling us; later on, I asked him, 'why didn't you tell me my son had Autism, he said that he was scared of losing a patient because many times parents don't take the diagnosis well.' Toolkit The research identified three critical stages where caregivers needed information: (1) recognising early signs from birth, (2) navigating diagnosis, and (3) coping after a confirmed NDD diagnosis. Based on these needs, the toolkit offers nine multilingual components, including: awareness posters to highlight key developmental milestones; a Child Development Milestone (CDM) calendar for monthly tracking; leaflets and videos offering caregiver stories, self-care guidance, and evidence-based support resources. These components were developed with feedback from Community Advisory Boards in all three countries and reflect the voices of mothers, fathers, grandparents, autistic adults, and local health workers. India's implementation focus In India, the toolkit is being piloted in east Delhi and north Goa districts, where Anganwadi workers are being trained to use and distribute the materials. The content has been adapted to the relevant Indian languages and cultural settings, and caregivers reported preference for printed materials over digital ones due to accessibility issues. Importantly, the toolkit integrates with India's Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card, a government health tracker that is under utilised for developmental monitoring. The CDM calendar addresses this gap by making developmental milestones more visible and understandable in everyday family life. Voices from Nepal and Sri Lanka In Nepal, where developmental screening tools are limited, the toolkit fills a major gap by introducing visual aids and referral information through Female Community Health Volunteers. In Sri Lanka, although families receive the Child Health Development Record (CHDR), many reported not understanding what to do when a milestone is delayed. A 44-year-old mother from Lalitpur said, 'Usually, all the materials were in English. It was difficult to understand. Everything was new at the time. I feel that if I had known about it when she was two or two and a half, she would have been diagnosed earlier.' Empowering families and frontline workers Beyond materials, the toolkit is also about changing attitudes. Videos feature real caregivers and health workers, focus on strengths rather than fear, and avoid clinical jargon. It encourages inclusive language, recognises shared caregiving in joint families, and supports mothers — who bear the brunt of responsibility — with mental health tips and self-care guidance. 'Too often, caregivers are left confused and unsupported, and even steered away from seeking care because of stigma and lack of credible and accessible information,' said lead author of the study, Sweta Pal of Sangath, India, a mental healthcare non-profit. 'This toolkit aims to bridge these critical gaps by offering clear, simple, actionable information and handholding caregivers through the journey of recognising early signs and navigating the path to care.' Next steps The toolkit is the first of its kind in South Asia, and novel for most parts of the world. It is designed using human-centred design principles and embedded in a public health context. It is currently being rolled out as part of community-based early screening programmes. The developers hope future research will evaluate whether it leads to earlier diagnoses, better engagement, and ultimately, improved developmental outcomes for children. 'This is more than just a set of posters and videos,' said Dr. Gauri Divan from Sangath and co-author, 'The components have been designed keeping in mind the often difficult and tortuous journeys that families of children with disabilities must travel when they seek answers for their child's difference. It is a reflection of what families told us they needed — and we hope that local governments will leverage these resources to ensure their availability for families in the future.'
