Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The biennial mass de-worming is being carried out throughout the State in all schools and Angan Wadi Centers (AWCs) by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with the Departments of Women & Child Development, School and Mass Education, ST & SC Development, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water, and ST & SC Development. In-depth awareness-raising initiatives that emphasize the advantages of taking albendazole and adopting WASH procedures are also carried out. For the National De-worming Day, August 2023 round, the Health and Family Welfare Department has sent a letter to all Collectors and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations.
This year, National De-worming Day (NDD) August 2023 round will be held on 10.08.2023 and Mop Up Day on 17.08.2023 in 19 districts i.e. Balasore, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jagatsighpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Khurdha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Puri & Raygada. Under NDD, teachers and AVVWs must offer albendazole (suspension/tablet) to children aged 1 to 19 and women of reproductive age (20 to 24) who are not pregnant or breastfeeding at their respective schools and AWCs.
Children in the 1-2 year age range in the remaining 11 LF-MDA districts (Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Mayurbhanj) will get albendazole suspension during routine vaccination sessions. To guarantee the program’s successful execution and expanded reach, cooperative efforts from all relevant departments at the district and block levels are needed.
In India, soil transmitted helminths (STH) are a serious public health issue. According to estimates from the GoI, 29.7% of kids in our state have STH. Children’s physical and intellectual development is harmed by STH. When children in schools and AWCs receive a safe, effective deworming medication, results in the areas where parasitic worms are endemic are significantly improved in terms of learning, job choice, incomes, and long-term well-being.
