KARACHI:Secretary Health Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi has launched Sindh Deworming Initiative‘s mass deworming campaign in Karachi in a ceremony held at Karachi Press Club and first school-based deworming program officially starts from 29th January in Karachi division.
The school-based deworming program aims to treat over 500,000 school-age children in 2,600 selected government and private schools, as well as, in 145 health facilities across the six districts of Karachi.
All children enrolled in classes 1-10 will be encouraged to access treatment at a nearby school or any health facility displaying a banner on deworming day, as well as, out-of-school children aged 5-14 years. The treatment will be provided free of charge.
Addressing the launching ceremony as Chief Guest Secretary Health Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi remarked that annual mass deworming is very important for our children, as it will ensure their improved physical and cogitative growth, resistance to other infections and improved school performance.
Moreover, mass deworming is in direct support of and positively impacts Pakistan’s progression toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals as well as the government of Pakistan top health priorities, reducing under nutrition and anemia.
Deworming is a quick , easy and safe measure to better the health and future of our children.
The World Health organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 1 in 14 of the world’s population, are infected globally with intestinal worms, also known as soil transmitted helminthes, with over 835 million children in need of treatment. These infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and tend to have the highest prevalence in school age children.
A national survey conducted in 2016 found that approximately 17 million school age children across Pakistan, including approximately 4.6 million children in Sindh, are in need of regular deworming.
Zahid Ali Abbasi further said it is the mandate of the health department government of Sindh to help the people of people of Pakistan to maintain and improve their health and to make our population among the healthiest in the region.
Since children account for one-third of Pakistan’s population, we open-heartedly welcome the school-based de-worming program in Pakistan and in Sindh, as this not only improve the health of our children but also benefit our society as a whole. Director Schools Education Karachi, Hamid Karim demonstrated his pride for the de-worming program which targets both enrolled and out-of-school children, ensuring no school age child is left behind. He stated benefits of school based deworming are demonstrated through a rigorous body of evidence proving that mass deworming improves both health and academic performance of school age children.
A deworming week will also commence from 30 January 2020 to 7th February 2020 in selected public health facilities across Karachi to ensure wider access.
The school based deworming program is coordinated and led by the Ministry of Health Sindh and implemented in partnership with Secretary School of Education and Literacy Education Department and Commissioner Office.
Interactive Research and Development (IRD) Pakistan, Evidence Action, and Indus Health network provide technical assistance to Federal and provincial government to ensure high quality program delivery.
Deworming drugs are donated through the WHO drug donation program.
The program is funded by Dubai Cares, part of Mohammaed Bin Rahisd Al Makhtoum Global Initiatives, and donors following reconditions of Give Well.