De-worming week begins at Pandori Gola school

National De-worming Week was inaugurated in the district by organising a programme at the Government Secondary School, Pandori Gola, on Thursday. The function was attended by members of the public, students, staff of the host school and officials of the Health Department. Dr Varinder Pal Kaur, officiating Civil Surgeon, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Dr Varinder Pal Kaur, while addressing the gathering, said that all students of private and government schools besides the kids of Anganwari centres up to the age of 1-19 years, would be served with Albendazole tablet under the supervision of the employees of the Health Department. Dr Varinder Pal Kaur said that the National De-worming Week (NDW) aims to de-worm all children between the ages of 1 and 19 with objectives that include Improving the nutritional status of children, supporting their access to education, improving their quality of life and supporting their all-round development. The programme also aims at eliminating intestinal worms, also known as Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH).

The Civil Surgeon said that teams of the Rashtriya Bal Swasth Karyakaram (RBSK) would supervise the functioning of the de-worming of students. It will pave the way for the mental and physical development of children.

The Civil Surgeon said that the students left out today would be served the medicine on December 5. Kids up to two years of age are to be given half tablet and those above two years of age are to be given full tablet, said the Civil Surgeon. The inaugural function was addressed by Sukhwant Singh, District

Mass Media Officer, RBSK coordinator Rajni Sharma and Prabhjot Kaur, officiating principal of the host school.