Nearly 9 crore children given deworming tablets in 2015: Government

NEW DELHI: With more than 24 crore children at risk of getting parasitic intestinal worms, the government has launched a major drive under which nearly nine crore children were given deworming tablets last year, Lok Sabha was today told.

"As per the World Health Organisation ( WHO) database (2012), it is estimated that 241 million children (68 per cent) between the ages of 1-14 years in India are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms," Union Health Minister JP Nadda in a written reply.

The minister said that the government last year launched National Deworming Day in 11 states and UTs with a target of covering 10.31 crore children between ages of 1-19 years.

The campaign managed to cover a total of 8.98 crore (85 per cent) children who received deworming tablet (Albendazole) on National Deworming Day 2015.

In 2016, National Deworming Day was observed on February 10 across the country with a target of covering approximately 27 crore children.

The government is seeking technical assistance from WHO and an international organisation Evidence Action's 'Deworm the World Initiative' for effective implementation of National Deworming Day, the minister said.