Over 17 lakh children to be administered deworming medicine in Kanpur between Feb 10 and Feb 15

Around 17.94 lakh children in Kanpur will be administered deworming medicine in the National Deworming Day campaign starting in the city from Feb 10. The campaign, which will run till Feb 15, will see children between the age of 1 and 18 being given deworming medicines as per the prescribed dosage depending upon their age.

Commenting on the ambit of the said deworming drive, Additional Chief Medical Officer Subodh Prakash said that children from rural and urban areas of Kanpur will be administered the medicine. Furthermore, to ensure the presence of all children at the campaign, Chief Medical Officer Alok Ranjan has directed the Director Inspector of Schools and other officials to hold meetings with headmasters of both private and government schools regarding the same.

Worm infections can stunt physical and mental development in children and adolescents alike, said CMO Alok Ranjan, before going on to add that to ensure 100% success for the campaign, "the ICDS, education, panchayati raj, and health departments will have to work in coordination with each other."

February 10 is marked by the Union Government as the National Deworming Day which sees similar deworming campaigns conducted in states and union territories across the country, driven by the mission to protect millions of Indian children from worm infection.