RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh will observe National Deworming Day on August 10. Mass drug intake program (MDA) will be organized in seven districts, mainly Durg, Balod, Bemetara, Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Mungeli and Mahasamund from August 10 to August 17 under the Filaria Eradication Program.

Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Renu G. Pillai on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the State Level Steering Committee at Secretariat, Nava Raipur. She asked the officials of the Health Department and other departments to achieve a 100 percent target in both the campaigns.

Director, National Health Mission Bhoskar Vilas Sandipan, Deputy Director of Health Department Dr. V.R. Bhagat and Dr. Mahendra Singh along with officials from Health Department, School Education Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Women and Child Development Department, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Evidence Action and other organizations were present.

During the National Deworming Day, on August 10, deworming medicine will be given to all the children and teenagers in the state from one year to 19 years. Children and adolescents having left out of taking medicine on August 10 will be administered medicine on the mop-up day on August 17.

Children will be given deworming medicine in Anganwadis, government schools, health centres, aided private schools and technical education institutions. Half a tablet of Albendazole will be given to children aged one to two years. Children above two years of age should be given D.E.C. with Albendazole.

The Health Department has set a target of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to more than 67 lakh people in seven districts from August 10 to August 17 under the Filaria Eradication Program. In these districts, except pregnant women and very ill persons, all people above one year of age will be given medicine.

Deworming is necessary for children and adolescents to maintain good health, improve nutrition, access to regular education and enhance quality of life.