Port Blair, Feb 9: The National De-worming Day is being observed in all the Schools and Anganwadi Centres across the Union Territory. To mark the event, a State level programme was organized by the Directorate of Health Services in association with UT Health Mission in the Auditorium of Govt. Girls Sr. Secondary School today with the aim to cover children between the age of 01 year -19 years through Schools and Anganwadi Centres.

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Mission Director (UTHM) was the chief guest on the occasion while Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services and Smti S Bhawani, Principal Govt. GSSS were the guests of honour.

In his address, the chief guest stressed on the need for personal hygiene and taking care of worm infestation. He also urged the children, teachers and parents to understand the potentiality of this program. Children were administered with Tablet Albendazole by the guests to mark the start of the program.

During the inaugural program, Dr. Avijit Roy, Joint Secretary (RCH-II) delivered the keynote address. The DHS, Dr Suja Anthony stressed about the 100% coverage of administering of Albendazole to all the children in the defined age group, so that the anaemia can be controlled in the society Smti S Bahwani expressed her views about the importance of the day.

The programme was attended by Deputy Directors of DHS, Medical Officers of RBSK Team, Health Educators, ANMs, Teachers and students of Govt. Girls SS School. The programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Shri. V. A Mohd. Ashraf, Health Educator, DHS.