Telangana to conduct Statewide deworming drive for 96.81 lakh children on July 13

The Telangana government will conduct the National Deworming Day (NDD) on Monday, July 13, across all 33 districts of the State to administer Albendazole tablets to children aged one to 19 years. A Mop-Up Day (MUD) will be held on July 20 to cover children who are absent, missed or ill on the main deworming day. The State has set a target of covering 96.81 lakh children.

Under the programme, Albendazole tablets will be administered through a uniform platform at Anganwadi centres, schools and colleges using a fixed-day approach. The dosage will vary by age. Children aged one to two years will receive half a tablet after it is crushed, while those aged two to three years will receive one crushed tablet. Children aged three to 19 years will receive one tablet to be chewed. Each Albendazole tablet contains 400 mg of the drug.

The uniform administration of Albendazole tablets on a single day will help eliminate soil-transmitted helminth infections among children, who are considered the vulnerable age group, the health department said.

The benefits of deworming include reduction in anaemia and worm-related morbidities, reduction or elimination of soil-transmitted helminth infections, improved energy levels and activity among children, lower school absenteeism, and improved work performance and efficacy.