National Deworming Day launched in Shravasti to boost children's health

The National Deworming Day campaign was officially launched in Shravasti district with a focus on ensuring the health and development of children. District Magistrate Annapurna Garg inaugurated the campaign at the primary school in Sisawa, Haripur Rani block, by cutting a ribbon and personally administering deworming medicine to children. Under this initiative, free Albendazole tablets will be distributed across all schools and Anganwadi centers in the district.

DM Garg emphasized that health workers will visit both rural and urban areas to administer the medicine to children aged 1 to 19 years. She instructed officials to ensure that no child is left out of the campaign. Highlighting the importance of deworming, she noted that worm infections can hinder physical and mental growth in adolescents, increase school absenteeism, and lead to malnutrition and anemia. To address this, the campaign will cover all children in the district, and a follow-up "mop-up day" has been scheduled for August 14, 2026, to reach those who may have missed the initial distribution.

Additional Chief Medical Officer Dr. K.K. Verma informed that mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or fatigue may occur in some children after taking the medicine. He assured that these effects are temporary and can be managed by providing clean water and keeping the child in a ventilated space.

The event saw active participation from local health officials, including CHC Superintendent Dr. Praveen Kumar, DEIC Manager Prateek Shakya, DPM Manish, and other team members. School students also attended the launch, marking a collaborative effort to promote better health and well-being among children in the region.