Mass Deworming Campaign Under Way In Karachi

KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department (SHD), in collaboration with School Education and Literacy Department and World Health Organization (WHO), is launching a massive deworming drive in seven districts of the Karachi division.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, Dr Akram Sultan, the Director Health Services, SHD, Karachi, announced a deworming campaign launching from 1st November till 5th November 2021 across all seven at-risk districts of Karachi Division.  

He said that this mass deworming week would target all school-age children (5 - 14-year-olds), including all enrolled in classes 1-10 and out-of-school children aged 5 – 14 years. For safe and accessible treatment, parents are advised and encouraged to cooperate with the trained health workers visiting private and public schools, deeni madaris, and communities.  

He informed that the deworming treatment would also be conducted simultaneously in public health facilities for two weeks especially targeting out of school and missed children.

The WHO estimates that over 1.5 billion people, or nearly 1 in 4 of the world’s population, are infected globally with intestinal worms, also known as soil-transmitted helminths, with over 835 million children in need of treatment. These infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and have the highest prevalence in school-age children.  

A national survey to assess intestinal worm infections in school-age children in Pakistan in 2016 found that approximately 17 million school-age children across 45 districts in the country require annual deworming. In Sindh, all seven districts of Karachi Division, i.e. Karachi Central, Karachi West, Karachi East, Karachi South, Korangi, Malir & Karachi Kemari, have been identified as at-risk of intestinal worm infection, having a cumulative population of nearly 4.2 million school-age children.

“Intestinal worm infections, also known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections, can interfere with nutrient uptake, leading to anaemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development. STH infections pose a serious threat to long-term health, education, and productivity of Pakistan’s children and therefore require immediate attention”, remarked Qadeer Baig, the Director of the Pakistan Deworming Initiative.

“Annual mass deworming is very important for our children, as it will help to improve their physical and cognitive growth, enhance school participation, and ultimately long-term well being,” he exclaimed.

“Deworming is an evidence-based, cost-effective, and safe measure to better the health and future of our children! Moreover, mass deworming is in direct support of and positively impacts Pakistan’s progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Government of Pakistan’s top health priorities around reductions in undernutrition and anaemia,” he concluded.

Recently, the deworming campaign took place from August till October and targeted approximately 574,000 and 3 Million school-aged children, respectively, in 5 districts of Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory. Whereas in KPK, 7.8 million children were targeted for the campaign.

Pakistan Deworming Initiative is coordinated at the national level by the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives. The program’s implementation at regional and provincial levels is led by Health and Education departments and district authorities. Health Department, School Education & Literacy Department and Commissioner Karachi Office, Government of Sindh are collaboratively leading this initiative with the technical support from IRD Pakistan and Evidence Action to ensure high-quality program delivery. Deworming medicine (Mebendazole 500 mg) supply is procured by the Ministry of National Health Services through the WHO’s Global Drug Donation Program (GDDP). It has been certified by The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

The program is also supported by Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

All the speakers urged parents and guardians to have their school-age child get deworming treatment during the deworming week by the trained health worker visiting private and public schools, deeni madaris, communities.  

The deworming treatment will also be conducted simultaneously in public health facilities for two weeks especially targeting out of school and missed children.