5.78 lakh children, 1.33 lakh women given de-worming tablets in Virudhunagar district

As part of National De-worming Day, de-worming tablet albendazole was distributed to 5.78 lakh children, aged 1 to 19 years, and 1.33 lakh women in reproductive age, between 20 and 30 years, in Virudhunagar district on Monday.

Collector N.O. Sukhaputra formally inaugurated the distribution of de-worming tablets to the students of Government Higher Secondary School at Pattampudur near here.

The Collector said that intestinal parasitic worms would cause anemia, malnutrition, physical and mental tiredness and hamper congnitive development. The de-worming exercise will protect the children from all these health issues.

The Collector said that for functioning of the human body, a lot of energy is required. The physical development of the human body is caused by protein.

Stating that the in-take of protein was one gram per every kg of body weight. “The physical strength of the body is reduced when the in-take of protein is lower than this prescribed level,” he added.

The intestinal parasitic worms would feed on the energy of the human body leading to malnutrition. These worms get transmitted through soil contaminated with faecal matter. Hence, anemia could be prevented by avoiding open defecation and keeping the environment clean.

The Collector asked the teachers to ensure that the children consumed the tablets that are given to them.

District Health Officer V. Yasothamani, who was present, said that the left-out children and women would be given the tablets during the mope-up exercise to be taken up on August 18.

Block Medical Officer Dr. Arokiya Rubenraj, medical officers and teachers were present on the occasion.