In response to the public health threat of intestinal worm infections of Jharkhand, the Health and Family Welfare Department will roll out the Nation Deworming Day campaign in the state on August 10 under which 1.38 crore children will be covered.

Addressing a press conference at the Suchana Bhawan here, principal secretary health department NIdhi Khare on August 8 said as part of the programme all schools and anganwadi kendras will administer Albendazole tablets to children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years, she said adding that any child not dewormed on that day, will be administered the dose on the mop up day a week later on August 17.

She said, intestinal worm infections are threat to public health in the nation with data of WHO pointing that more than 22 crore children in the country in the age group 5 to 14 years are at risk and declaring India to be one of the countries with the highest burden of worm infections and related morbidity in the world.

Ms Khare said, to prepare for the National Deworming Day the state has trained 47,807 teachers and 38,432 anganwadi workers to administer the tablet as per the guidelines.  She said, side effects from consuming Albendazole are very rare and mild and the department has made all preparations to tackle if any emergency.