On February 10th, we commemorate National Deworming Day, a campaign by the Union Health Ministry to rid every child in the country of worms. Globally, over 836 million children are vulnerable to parasitic worm infections.
In India, according to the World Health Organization, around 241 million children aged 1 to 14 face this risk, known as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). These worms are spread through soil contaminated with feces.
National Deworming Day 2024
Each year on February 10th, India observes National Deworming Day, focusing on deworming children aged 1 to 19. This initiative, launched in 2015, aims to deworm nearly 240 million children at risk of soil-transmitted helminth infections. These infections, caused by parasites like roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms, are common among humans, according to WHO.
Worm infections can hinder nutrient absorption, leading to issues like anaemia, malnutrition, and stunted growth in children. The Indian government provides deworming tablets through Anganwadi centers and schools across all states and union territories. The first round occurs on February 10th, followed by a second round on August 10th each year.
National Deworming Day 2024 Date
.National Deworming Day in 2024 is observed on February 10th in India. The Indian Government is committed to deworming all children aged 1 to 19 across the country as part of a national initiative.
National Deworming Day Theme 2024
The theme for National Deworming Day 2024 in India hasn’t been revealed yet. Normally, the theme is announced a few months before the event, set for February 10th, 2024.
What Is Deworming?
Deworming involves giving children medicine to get rid of worms in their bodies. If kids don’t take these medicines, they can get soil-transmitted helminths, which is when worms in the soil infect the body. Worm infections are a big health problem and can increase the chances of children dying early.
Types of Worms Affecting Children’s Health
There are three main types of worms that can affect people: roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
Why It’s Important to Deworm Children?
Deworming is crucial because worm infections can gradually pose serious risks to a child’s health, impacting their growth, nutrition, mental abilities, and learning abilities over time.
Factors causing Worm Infections
Worm infections can occur due to unsanitary practices such as walking barefoot on soil with worms, eating with dirty hands, drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized milk, using unwashed vegetables, or coming into contact with animals.
Signs of Worm Infections in Children
Symptoms of worm infestations in children include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, dehydration, frequent urination, weight loss, redness or rashes in the buttock area, weakness, exhaustion, hunger, abdominal discomfort or pain, and stool with traces of blood.
Health Risks of Worm Infections
Intestinal worm infections can severely impact children’s health by depleting their nutrients, leading to poor nutrition. The most common risks include anemia, low body weight, impaired growth, malabsorption of essential nutrients, decreased appetite, and symptoms like diarrhea and dysentery.
National Deworming Day 2024 History
In February 2015, the Indian government initiated the National Deworming Day in 11 states and Union Territories including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura, under the National Health Mission.
To tackle worm infections among children in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare expanded the National Deworming Day to all 36 States/Union Territories on February 10, 2016.
Following this, a mop-up day (MUD) on February 15, 2016, will cater to children who missed the initial dose on February 10. The program will take place in all schools and Anganwadi centers across the country.
National Deworming Day 2024 Significance
National Deworming Day is an annual event where kids aged 1 to 19, regardless of school enrollment, can get treated for intestinal worms by teachers at government and government-aided schools, as well as Anganwadi Workers.
Worm infections harm children’s health, nutrition, and education. They can lead to anemia and malnutrition, affecting both physical and mental growth. Malnourished and anemic children tend to be underweight and have slower growth. Those heavily infected often struggle to concentrate or even attend school due to sickness or fatigue.
Regular deworming helps children:
- Grow better and stay healthier
- Become more resilient to other illnesses
- Improve learning and stay more active in school
- Attend school more consistently
National Deworming Day 2024 FAQs
Q.1. What is National Deworming Day?
Ans. National Deworming Day is an annual campaign in India on February 10th to eliminate worms in children aged 1-19, enhancing their health and education.
Q.2. Why is deworming important?
Ans. Deworming is crucial to prevent worm infections in children, which can lead to malnutrition, anemia, and hindered growth, affecting their health and learning abilities.
Q.3. How does deworming work?
Ans. Deworming involves administering medicine to children to eliminate worms from their bodies, reducing the risk of soil-transmitted helminths infections and associated health problems.
Q.4. What are the signs of worm infections in children?
Ans. Symptoms of worm infections include nausea, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, and stool abnormalities, indicating the need for deworming treatment to safeguard children’s health.
Q.5. How does deworming benefit children’s education?
Ans. By improving health and nutrition, deworming helps children stay active, attend school regularly, and concentrate better, fostering their overall growth and academic performance.
