National Deworming Day: 14 States Record Decline In Worm Infection

News: Since the launch of the ‘National Deworming Day’ in 2015, 14 states have shown a reduction in worm infections prevalent among children while nine states showed a substantial decline.

Facts:

• National Deworming Day(NDD): It is observed bi-annually since 2015 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Aim: It is aimed at eradicating intestinal worms also known as Soil-Transmitted Helminths(STH) among children in the age group of 1-19 years.
• What happens on Deworming Day? Children and adolescents aged 1-19 years are administered Albendazole tablets across government, government-aided schools, anganwadis, private schools and other educational institutions.

Additional Facts:

• Soil Transmitted Helminths(STH): It is a sub-group within the group of helminth infections.It is caused specifically by those helminths which are transmitted through soil contaminated with faecal matter and are therefore called soil-transmitted helminths.
  • Causes: The main species that infect people are the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale).
  • Transmission: It is transmitted by eggs that are passed in the faeces of infected people.