Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 07 August 2025
The Government of India is firmly committed to achieving an Anaemia Mukt Bharat and securing a worm-free future for the children of the country. Worm infestation remains a major public health issue, particularly affecting the nutritional status of children. This nutritional impairment has a significant impact on their growth and physical development.
Worms consume nutrients meant for the human body and cause blood loss, poor nutrition, and stunted growth. Children suffering from heavy worm infestations are often too sick or tired to concentrate in school or attend school or Anganwadi Centres. Worm infestations negatively affect children’s physical and cognitive development, which may have long-term adverse consequences on their well-being and potential. Studies have shown that absenteeism in schools decreases with regular deworming.
To address this issue and reduce the burden of intestinal worms—which are a major cause of anaemia and related morbidity in the country—the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in coordination with the Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, has launched the National Deworming Day (NDD) across the country. Under this programme, all children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years are given deworming tablets through the platform of Schools and Anganwadi Centres.
The National Deworming Day 2025 (August round) will be implemented in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 8th August 2025, followed by a Mop-Up Day on 16th August 2025. During this round, Albendazole tablets will be administered through Schools and Anganwadi Centres to the eligible children and adolescents.
All parents are requested to ensure that their children are administered Albendazole tablets at their respective Schools and Anganwadi Centres.
Furthermore, the general public is requested to extend their full cooperation to ANMs, Anganwadi Workers, and ASHAs, and to give wide publicity to the initiative to ensure the effective implementation of the National Deworming Day 2025 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
