Deworming campaign focuses on children

QUETTA:

A deworming campaign has been initiated in the Lasbella district of Balochistan, reflecting the government’s concerted effort to safeguard the health of the younger generation, recognized as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s future.

Deputy Commissioner Noor Muhammad Mandukhel underscored the collaborative endeavor between the Ministry of Planning and Development, the Department of Health, Education, and District Administration in executing this vital project.

The campaign aims to provide anti-worm medication to over 0.2 million children in Lasbela, with a formal three-day launch scheduled from January 29 to 31.

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Deputy Commissioner Mandukhel emphasized the significance of this initiative in fostering the mental and physical development of children, thereby ensuring a secure and promising future.

Program Director Qadeer Baig elaborated on the broader national scope of the deworming program, encompassing 47 districts across Pakistan, with Lasbela and Hub chosen as model districts in Balochistan. The campaign, directed towards schoolchildren, aims to protect them from stomach worms, enhancing their overall well-being and health resilience.

Deworming is a preventive health intervention involving the administration of medication to eliminate parasitic worms, predominantly targeting the intestinal tract. By eradicating these parasites, deworming mitigates the risk of malnutrition, anemia, and other health complications associated with worm infestations.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2024.