Islamabad, January 24, 2020 (PPI-OT): The Spokesperson of Ministry of Federal Education has issued a clarification on the news item appeared in some section of Press on 24th January about the exaggerated number of side effects of the medicine among children. Yesterday, on 23rd of January, 2020 the second round of “Mass Deworming Day” was being observed across Islamabad as a part of efforts to improve the health of children, particularly those enrolled in schools.
Approximately, 574,000 school age children within Government and Private schools, Deeni Madaris as well as out of school children aged 05-14 years were encouraged to access treatment at nearby schools. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 1.5 billion people or nearly 1 in 4 of the world’s population are infected globally with intestinal worms, also known as soil transmitted Helminthes (STH) with over 835 million children in need of treatment.
Their infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and tend to have the highest prevalence in school age children. To address the prevailing risk of intestinal worm infection, the Islamabad Deworming initiative conducted its first round of Mass Deworming in 2019, successfully treating 200,320 children. This second round of Mass Deworming is aimed to treat 574,000 children or 100% of the children at risk of intestinal worm infection. The campaign was successfully conducted in the public, private schools and deeni madaris of ICT on 23rd January 2020.
A total of 574,880 school age children were targeted. In order to respond to any mild side effects, all the public and private health facilities were on board including the ambulance service of 1122. Six regional and one central control room was established to observe and facilitate the school teachers in dealing with any side effect. Some media agencies reported an exaggerated number of side effects of the medicines among children in “IMS (I-V) Dhoke Syedan (Malot)”. Infact, a small number of cases with mild side effects were observed in school, they recovered, of which 2 children felt dizziness who were immediately referred to National Institute of Health where the children were provided necessary basic health support and discharged.
The second annual Mass Deworming Campaign of the Islamabad Deworming initiative was launched on 23rd of December, 2019 at Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-7/4, Islamabad. Her Excellency, the First Lady graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Federal Education Minister, Mr. Shafqat Mehmood, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Development and Special Initiative, Ms. Kanwal Shauzab, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ministry Dr. Nosheen Hamid and Director General, Federal Directorate of Education Syed Umair Javed also graced the event. They urged parents and guardians to send their children aged 05-14 to their nearest Government or Private schools on deworming day during school timings for safe and free medicine.
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