National Deworming Day (NDD) is organized biannually across all states and Union Territories (UTs) of India to combat intestinal worms, also known as Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH), among all preschool and school-age children, both enrolled and unenrolled, between the ages of 1-19 years. The first round takes place in February, and the second round in August.
- In 2025, the first round of NDD will be observed on February 10,2025 with a mop-up day (MUD) scheduled on February 17 2025, or as determined by the respective state governments.
Background:
i.NDD is a flagship program of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), launched in 2015.
- The first-ever NDD was observed on February 10, 2015.
ii.Initially, NDD was conducted in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs): Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH),Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (TN), and Tripura, as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).
iii.Due to its success, the program expanded nationwide, with Albendazole tablets (a safe & effective deworming medicine) introduced as the primary treatment for eliminating worms.
- Albendazole and Mebendazole tablets, approved by the WHO, are used to treat intestinal worms in children and adolescents.
iv.Since its launch, over 30 crores (300 million) children in India have been dewormed annually, making it one of the world’s largest public health initiatives.
Note: As per NHM, currently, 277 districts across 11 Indian states and UTs will observe NDD.
What is Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH):
i.STH are parasitic worms that infect humans through contact with contaminated soil.
ii.These worms, such as Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworms), Trichuris trichiura (whipworms), and Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus (hookworms), are prevalent in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene.
iii.It leads to anemia, malnutrition, stunted growth, impaired development, and digestive issues like abdominal pain and diarrhea, in children.
Significance:
i.NDD leverages schools and Anganwadi centers to deworm preschool and school-aged children.
ii.It is one of the largest public health initiatives, reaching a vast number of children in a short span of time.
iii.The main goal of NDD is to enhance children’s health, nutritional status, access to education, and overall quality of life.
What is Deworming:
i.Deworming is the process of administering medication to eliminate parasitic worms from the body.
ii.It is crucial for improving health, especially in children, by preventing infections caused by STH.
Global Impact:
i.More than 1.5 billion people, or 24% of the global population, are affected by STH. These infections are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, with the highest numbers in sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, China, and East Asia.
ii.Approximately 600 million school-age children and 270 million preschool-age children require regular treatment and preventive measures.
National Impact:
i.As per World Health Organization (WHO) report, STH is a major public health issue in India, with 241 million children aged 1-14 at risk of infection.
ii.This accounts for around 68% of the world’s children in this age group and approximately 28% of all children globally at risk of STH.
