DH NEWS SERVICE
SAMBA, Aug 5
A district-level review meeting to assess preparations for the upcoming National Deworming Day (NDD) was held on Wednesday under the chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioner Samba, Ayushi Sudan.
The meeting focused on ensuring effective planning, coordination and smooth implementation of the nationwide health initiative, which will be observed across the district on August 10, 2026.
During the meeting, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) presented a detailed briefing on the objectives, importance and implementation strategy of National Deworming Day.
The officer informed the chair that the campaign aims to protect children and adolescents from intestinal worm infections through the administration of deworming tablets. Such infections can adversely affect children’s nutritional status, physical growth, cognitive development and overall health, making the programme a significant public health intervention.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for meticulous planning and close coordination among all departments involved in the campaign. She directed the concerned officers to ensure that every eligible child in the age group of 1 to 19 years receives the prescribed deworming tablet during the drive. She underlined that no eligible beneficiary should be left uncovered and instructed officials to make special efforts to reach children studying in schools, Anganwadi centres and those outside the formal education system.
To ensure transparency and effective monitoring, the Deputy Commissioner directed officers to conduct random field visits across the district on the day of the campaign. She said these inspections would help assess the quality of implementation, identify any gaps and ensure that deworming tablets are administered according to the prescribed guidelines. She also stressed the importance of maintaining proper records and submitting timely reports to facilitate smooth monitoring of the programme.
The meeting also discussed the responsibilities of various departments involved in the campaign. Officials reviewed the availability and distribution of deworming tablets, awareness activities, logistical arrangements and the coordination mechanism required among the Health Department, Education Department, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and local bodies. The Deputy Commissioner asked all departments to work in close coordination to ensure that the campaign is conducted efficiently across urban as well as rural areas of the district.
She further highlighted the need to spread awareness among parents, teachers and community members regarding the benefits of regular deworming. She said awareness plays a vital role in encouraging participation and ensuring that children receive the treatment without hesitation. Officials were instructed to strengthen information dissemination through schools, Anganwadi centres and community-level outreach activities before the scheduled campaign date.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Commissioner Panchayat (ACP), Chief Education Officer (CEO), District Health Officers, officials of the Health Department, representatives of the ICDS Department and Municipality, who reviewed their respective roles and assured full cooperation for the successful implementation of National Deworming Day. The district administration expressed confidence that with coordinated efforts and active monitoring, the campaign would achieve maximum coverage and contribute significantly to improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents across Samba district.
