Children in Thiruvananthapuram to be dewormed on August 10

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: District health officials will distribute deworming medicine, free of cost, for children aged between one year and 19 years on August 10. Over 6.6 lakh children in 1,499 schools, including unaided schools and 2,836 anganwadis will get the Albendazole tablets. Booths have been set up in all schools in association with educational department, said District Medical Officer (DMO) Jose Dcruz. Dosage that will be given for children between the age of two and 19 years will be 400 mg.

They can consume it after lunch. Those between one and two years will be given half the tablet (200mg) which has to be dissolved in a teaspoon of water and consumed. “Children who are under medication for a handful of diseases and those under one year will not be included in the programme. The tablet is safe for all and this is being emphasised to avoid malicious campaign against the programme,” Mr Dcruz told in a press conference.

The tablets were expected to eliminate hook worms, whip worms and round worms. They enter children when they play un soil or come in contact with contaminated surfaces. This can cause anaemia and malnutrition in even children who consume normal food.   “It’s important to deworm the children to improve their attention, growth and resistance to diseases,” he said. The children who fail to get medicine on August 10 will have to be given medicines on August 17 which will be observed as Deworming Day, he added.