UPSC Exam Preparation: Topic of the Day – National Deworming Initiative
The National Deworming Initiative was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the occasion of the 4th edition of the National Deworming day observed on 10th February 2018. The initiative aims to reach 32.2 crore children belonging to the age group of 1 to 19 years and combat parasitic worm infections.
National Deworming day is observed on the 10th of February and the 10th of August every year. It was first observed in the year 2015.The days are dedicated to conducting mass deworming programme in order to mobilise the stake holders such as the state governments, health personnel etc to prioritize investments in limiting one of the most recurrent infection, the Soil Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections. The goal is to improve the overall health, quality of life, nutritional status and the cognitive development of the children in the 1 to 19 years age group. The initiative undertaken would bring about behavioural changes in terms of maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness, washing hands, wearing footwear, toilet usage etc which also bring about a significant reduction in incidences of infection.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is responsible for the implementation of this initiative in collaboration with the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
- Other stakeholders include Ministries of Urban and Rural development, Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation, Ministry of Tribal affairs and Panchayati Raj.
Parasitic worms or STH are prominent in those areas where the sanitation facilities are poor and open defecation is predominant. Every day, a huge number of eggs are produced by the parasitic worms which get passed in human excreta and spreads by contaminating the soil in such areas. The STH absorbs essential nutrients meant for the human body and lives in the intestines of human beings.
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