ADDC Bandipora inaugurates National De-Worming Day at Bandipora

Bandipora, March 20: Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Bandipora Mohammad Yousuf Mir on Wednesday   inaugurated the National De-Worming Day by providing the tablets to students at a school at Bandipora.

          Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora Javid Iqbal, Chief Medical Officer Bilkees Mir besides other senior officials of education and health departments were present on the occasion.

          After inaugurating the campaign, ADDC stressed on the students to maintain cleanliness by washing their hands before eating and also asked the teachers and officials to ensure cleanliness and good hygiene in and around the schools so that students don’t fall ill.         

He also stressed on the teachers and health officials to  create awareness among the students regarding the benefits of cleanliness and ensure that cleanliness is maintained in schools. He said that education department has a vital role in awareness among the children about hygienic lifestyle.

ADDC while highlighting the significance of the programme stressed for better coordination for the overall success of the campaign and exhorted upon educating people at grassroots levels and said that other vulnerable sections should be included in the programme.

He stressed on the officials to give wide publicity to the program so that all parents ensure that their kids are provided this tablet at schools during this week long campaign. He asked them to make use of all the available channels including print electronic and social media to create awareness about the program so that no child is left out.

Mir urged for working with more synergy and cooperation so that the objective of universal healthcare is achieved in letter and spirit. He appealed the people to bring their children to nearest health centre besides Anganwari centres and educational institutions to make the programme a success.

     Speaking on the occasion, CMO Bandipora said that the programme was organised to create awareness among the masses especially children about the importance of de-worming through medication. She stressed upon the children to make proper hygiene a habit. Several doctors from health department delivered lectures on the occasion about the need of de-worming and health care.

          Epidemiologist Dr Nabeel Ishtiyaq while briefing about the about the action plan scheduled for the de-worming campaign said that 161213 children in the age group of 1 to 19 years enrolled in various schools and Anganwari centers will be given de-worming tablets free of cost in the district during the week long program.

He called for concerted efforts to make the entire state free from Soil Transmitted Helminths, and to give emphasis on sanitation, cleanliness and for developing effective IEC strategies for community awareness and mobilization during National De-worming Day.

Officials said in the first phase all schools, Anganwadi centres, and madrassas shall be covered and the Asha workers, anganwari workers, teachers have been deputed to provide de-worming tablets while mop program shall be carried till March 26^th so that no child is left out.

A similar program was also held at Dawar Gurez where the campaign was launched by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Mohammad Abdullah Malik at Anganwari Centre Dawar