What is Deworming and Why Does India Have a National Deworming Day?

1. What is Deworming and Why Does India Have a National Deworming Day? An overview for media personnel

2. What are worms and how do they harm children?

3. Worms are parasites that thrive on nutrition from the human intestine.

4. An infected child • contaminates soil with • faeces containing worm • eggs. These eggs develop into larvae in the soil 2. Other children are infected by eggs ingested through food or dirty hands, or by larvae penetrating the skin 3. In an infected child, eggs and larvae develop into adult worms, which produce eggs and have an ill effect on the child's health Worms spread as a result poor sanitation and hygiene.

5. Worm infections impair children’s nutritional status in multiple ways: • Worms feed on host tissues, including blood, which leads to anemia • The nutritional impairment has significant impact on growth and physical development • Worms consume nutrients meant for the human body and cause blood loss, poor nutrition, and stunted growth • Roundworms may also compete for vitamin A in the intestine

6. Why Deworming Children is Important Due to heavy worm infections children are often too sick or tired to concentrate at school or attend school. In the long-term this could affect their work potential and wages. Deworming improves children’s health and nutritional uptake, and capacity to learn. Deworming using Albendazole (400 mg) chewable tablet is the simplest solution used to treat worm infection. Albendazole is a safe drug for mass administration, both, for children and adults. Studies show that absenteeism in schools decreases by 25%, due to deworming.

7. Other Practices to Avoid Worm Infections, in Addition to Deworming

8. What is National deworming dayand Why is it important?

9. The WHO estimates that 220 million children between the ages of 1 and 14 years in India are at risk of intestinal worm infection*. Deworming improves children’s health and nutritional uptake, and capacity to learn. Anganwadi and school-based deworming is a development “best buy” due to its impact on educational and economic outcomes and low cost.   *Source: Deworming – Millennium Development Goals (http://whqlibdoc.who.in/hq/2005/WHO_CDS_CPE_PVC_2005.12.PDF)

10. Anganwadi and School-based Deworming is Evidence Based Cost Effective Scalable Impactful Safe Simple

11. On 10 February 2015, Government of India launched the National Deworming Day, a focused strategy to combat parasitic worm infections in children at scale: √ Fixed-day approach √ Uses existing structures √ Children are already at schools and Anganwadis facilitating high coverage √ Teachers and Anganwadi workers, who administer the drug, are trusted and can be easily trained √ Functionaries, such as ASHAs, generate awareness and mobilize communities

12. National Deworming Day is unique: • Leveraging convergence between departments • Reaching untapped beneficiaries, like private schools • Using technology for preparedness, review, and quality assurance • Informing other health interventions

13. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Ministry of Human Resource Development Ministry of Women and Child Development Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry of Tribal Welfare Ministry of Panchayati Raj Notable Inter-Departmental Convergence

14.  National Deworming Day was first implemented on 10 February 2015, deworming, 8.9 crore children A second round was held on 10 February, 2016, deworming 17.9 crore children A biannual round of deworming was conducted in February 2018 in 33 states/UTs based on worm prevalence data, deworming 26.6 crore children The biannual round will be held on 10 August 2018 with a mop-up day on 17 August 2018

15. Comprehensive community mobilization techniques, including mass media and mid-media messages Timely availability of drugs, training material, and reporting formats Regular review and stock taking mechanisms Robust and well-prepared emergency response system A Well Planned and implemented program Continuous and rigorous program monitoring Timely and high quality trainings

16. What are adverse events andwhy do they happen?

17. Albendazole 400 mg is safe and beneficial for both children and adults • Albendazole is approved by the World Health Organization for the treatment of intestinal worms. It is also on the National List of Essential Medicines of India, and provisioned for use in children by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. • Deworming has very few side effects on children • Events such as nausea, mild abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fatigue may occur among few children, especially those with high worm infections • Any adverse events are temporary and generally can be managed easily at the school/Anganwadi What are adverse events?

18. Severe adverse events are rare. Adverse event management protocols and material are included in trainings and disseminated to all levels. Health centre/functionary’s contact details are made available to all schools and Anganwadis. Emergency Response Systems is on standby during National Deworming Day and mop-up day. Robust and Well Prepared Emergency Response Systems

19. India is endemic to intestinal worms, so it is important that all children are dewormed Media can play a positive role in alleviating myths about deworming Media can build public perception on benefits of deworming Media can inform parents and guardians about program to boost coverage Social media can be used to raise awareness about the program to diverse audiences Media can support to make NDD a success

20. For more information on National deworming dayplease contact:[enter state specific contact details here]

21. National Deworming Day is a step towards an India where every child gets a chance to live and thrive free from the threat of intestinal worm infection.

22. Thank you