Chandigarh, May 8 (YP Bureau)
Sh. Madan Mohan Mittal, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab here today informed that nearly 28 lakh school children studying in Government and Govt. aided schools of Punjab will be given first dose of Albendazole tablet for De-worming on Friday, 10th May 2013 and the 2nd dose would be given on 15th November, 2013.
It has also been decided that 10th May and 15th November of each year would be observed as De-worming days. Sh. Mittal appealed the parents of the children studying in these schools to ensure that their children must get this de- Worming dose in their schools.
Health Minister further told that under the School Health Programme of Health & Family Welfare Department, Punjab, medical checkup of children studying in Govt. and Govt. aided schools is conducted twice a year and children found suffering with any ailments are given free treatment in govt. hospitals. Children suffering from eye- sight problems are given spectacles free of cost. He informed that during the year 2012-13, 55664 spectacles were given to such children. Children suffering with heart ailments are provided free treatment through Govt. and other empanelled hospitals. 1913 such children have been referred for treatment out of which 965 children have already undergone surgeries at a cost of Rs. 864 lakh.
Similarly, free of cost treatment is also being provided for children suffering from Cancer, and 318 such children have been referred till now at an expenditure of Rs. 360 lakhs and the treatment is in progress. Children found suffering from Thallesemia are given free treatment (Chillation therapy) through 6 Thallesemic Societies. 148 such children are already undergoing treatment and till now Rs. 11 lakh has already been spend for the purpose.
Sh. Mittal stated that as per NFHS-3 survey, 55% children in the country are anaemic. The problem of anaemia is also prevalent among the school children of Punjab. The reason behind anaemia are mainly malnutrition and worms in the stomach and children suffering anaemia feel fatigued and also remain irritated and hence unable to concentrate on studies and also suffer with weak memory and other growth related problem etc. In order to address the issue of malnutrition, children are given meals in afternoon in the schools. Children who are found very anaemic are thoroughly examined in govt. hospitals and given free of cost treatment. Besides this, 52 tablets of Iron- Folic Acid per year are also given to children and 2 doses of de-worming tablets is also given at an interval of six months.