Deworming tablets distributed to students, women in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Deworming tablets were distributed to students below 19 years of age in Tamil Nadu on Friday as part of a national campaign to prevent parasitic worms from affecting their mental and physical development.

The tablets -- Albendazole -- were also distributed to lakh women in the age group of 20-30 years.

The programme is carried out twice a year -- in February and August.

The second round of deworming in 2024 was carried out on Friday (August 23). “A mop-up round will be held on August 30,” health minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday.

Tablets were distributed at all primary health centres, health sub-centres, anganwadi centres, govt and govt-aided schools, private schools and all colleges.

Anganwadi workers, health workers and ASHA workers were involved in distributing the tablets.

Children between one and two years got half of a 200 mg chewable tablet while those between five and 19 years got full tablets. Women of reproductive age between 20 and 30 years were given one 400 mg chewable tablet, director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam said.

“For children in the 2-5 years age group, the whole tablet is powdered and dissolved in water,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly a quarter of the world's population is infected with soil-borne intestinal worms—roundworm, hookworm and whipworm. “They feed on blood and food in the human intestine. Those with infection don’t have any symptoms. Those with severe infection may have diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weakness and loss of appetite. Children with infection are prone to anaemia, malnutrition, stunting, brain dysfunction and other diseases due to chronic deworming infestation,” he added

Taking this medicine will increase weight gain in children, prevent anaemia, resist other infections and improve cognition and learning ability. Among pregnant women, it increases the ability to be active.


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