The office of the District Medical & Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District today launched the observation of National Deworming Day at a programme held at Rymbai Government Secondary School, Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills District. The programme was attended by District Medical & Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Dr D. Shylla, Medical and Health Officer, Rymbai PHC, Dr (Mrs) S. Rymbai, Health Educator Rymbai PHC, Smt. D. Kshiar, other health officials, ASHAs, teachers, students and others.
Addressing the gathering, District Medical Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Dr D. Shylla said that National Deworming Day is a public health initiative in India that aims to treat intestinal worm infection in children in the age group of 1-19 years to reduce anaemia and in order to improve nutrition.
He also enlightened the students on the several ways in which one can get worm infection even as he emphasized on the effectivity of antiparasitic medicines in killing the worms or their eggs in the human body. Additionally, he also stated that the presence of worms inside the body can lead to several diseases including malnutrition and anaemia even as he advised the students to drink boiled water daily and eat healthy and hygienic food. Medical and Health Officer, Rymbai PHC, Dr (Mrs) S. Rymbai in her speech illustrated the various ways in which worms can enter into the body even as she informed that worm infection can cause deficiency diseases while also stressing on the importance of cleanliness, consumption of hygienic food and urged the students to wash their hands before eating to avoid worm infection.
During the programme, Health Educator Rymbai PHC, Smt. D. Kshiar performed a live demonstration to the students in regards to the seven steps of hand washing. Others who spoke during the programme were DPM, NHM, East Jaintia Hills District, Shri A. Dhar, RBSK Manager, NHM, East Jaintia Hills District, Smt. D. Passah and Assistant Teacher, Rymbai Government Secondary School, Rymbai Smt. S.L. Dkhar.
