News:The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is conducting the tenth round of National Deworming Day(NDD).
Facts:
About National Deworming Day(NDD):
- The National Deworming Day(NDD) is observed bi-annually since 2015 on 10th February and 10th August in all states and UTs followed by mop-up activities.
- Objective:To reduce the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminths(STH) commonly called the parasitic intestinal worms among all children and adolescents.
- The day was started in 2015 by the Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare.
- It is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
- During the day, the children and adolescents aged 1-19 years are administered Albendazole across government, government-aided schools, anganwadis and other educational institutions.
Additional information:
About Soil-transmitted helminth(STH):
- Soil-transmitted helminth(STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities.
- They are transmitted by eggs present in human faeces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor.
- The main species that infect people are the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
