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PESHAWAR, Nov 27 (APP): Special Secretary Health, Khalid Parvez on Thursday chaired a meeting of Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee to discuss protection of children from intestinal (stomach) worms in KP.
Meeting was attended by senior officials of health department and other relevant departments. The meeting was informed that under the ongoing De-worming Program in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, approximately 18 million children have been provided with free, safe and effective medicines from 2019 to date.
The upcoming campaign would be conducted from 8 December to 12 December during which around 8 million more children across the province would be administered medicine to eliminate intestinal worms.
It was told that under this campaign, a target has been set to protect over 8 million children aged 5 to 14 years in 22 districts of KP from intestinal worms. This target includes children from all public and private schools, primary and middle educational institutions and madaris.
To ensure the success of the campaign, more than 35,000 teachers, health department staff, Lady Health Workers and other supporting personnel are deployed every year.
Teachers are provided special training and assigned the responsibility of administering the medicine and creating awareness at educational institutions, while the health department ensures technical supervision, availability of medicines and monitoring.
Officials stated that intestinal worms negatively affect children’s health, physical growth, nutrition and academic performance. Due to De-worming Program, a significant reduction in anemia, weakness, and other diseases among children has been observed, meeting was told.
According to health department, strict implementation of all safety protocols would be ensured during the campaign and children would be provided with safe and effective medicines in accordance with international standards.
Meeting also urged parents, teachers, religious scholars and all segments of society to fully cooperate in this national welfare initiative so that the children of the province may move towards a healthy and secure future.