Four-day Deworming Initiative Launched

1 min read

PESHAWAR: The health department is starting a four-day deworming programme for children aged 5 to 14 in 22 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 4 to 8.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Pakistan Deworming Initiative (PDI) jointly hosted a media symposium here on Monday, focusing on the crucial role media played in controlling worm infections in children.

This event brought together representatives from health, education, administration, local government and rural development departments along with Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and media sector to emphasise the importance of public awareness in combating intestinal worm infections, which continued to affect millions of school-aged children in 22 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

During the symposium, media representatives, government officials, and technical experts highlighted the widespread nature of worm infections and how the media could amplify the message to reach even the most remote and vulnerable populations.

Speaking on the occasion, Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Ihtisham Ali said, “By working together, we are building a healthier future for our children in 22 high-risk districts of the province through a deworming campaign scheduled to treat 8 plus million school-aged children from 4th to 8th November.” He said that media played a vital role in that mission and the partnership with Pemra had strengthened their ability to engage communities and protect the health of millions of children.

“Pemra, as a strategic partner, has been actively supporting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deworming Initiative since 2020 by ensuring the dissemination of deworming campaign messages through television channels, cable networks, and digital platforms,” said Pemra DG Mohammad Tahir in a video message.

KP Secretary Health Adeel Shah emphasised, “The impact of this initiative on the health and education of our children can’t be understated—it is a cornerstone of public health in KP.”

Masood Ahmad, Secretary Education highlighted, “The school-based approach in the province has been instrumental in reaching children who would otherwise be left behind.”

He said that countries where deworming consistently happened had shown an increase in school attendance by 25 percent.

Dr Tufail M. Khan, from the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) stated, “Preventing these infections is not just a health issue, but a matter of protecting the educational future of our children.” He asserted that regular deworming, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), was paramount in reducing these infections and improving children’s overall health and school performance.

The media symposium is part of a broader effort to engage media partners in expanding the reach of the Pakistan Deworming Initiative. Dr Fazal Majeed and Dr Shahid Younas from the health department mentioned that their collective efforts were transformative and with continued support from Pemra and media, they could ensure no child was left behind in this battle against parasitic infections.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2024

Previous Story

Cyber Shaming Drives Teen To Suicide; Police Arrest Three

polio
Next Story

Why Are We Failing To Eradicate Polio?

Latest from Blog

Joint Efforts Needed To Protect Children From Exploitation, Says Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has emphasised the need for collective efforts from the government, civil society, and the public to safeguard children’s rights and provide them with a safe environment. “Today, we observe the World Day Against Child Labour, which reminds us to make efforts to protect…

13-year-old Domestic Help Beaten To Death In Rahim Yar Khan

A 13-year-old house help died after her employers allegedly tortured her in Rahim Yar Khan, in yet another tragic incident, once again raising concerns over the safety of underage domestic workers in the country. According to the police, a man and his wife have been arrested over suspicion of being…

Kidnapper Couple Arrested Two Girls Recovered

Minor girl rescued in 72 hours after kidnapping, rickshaw driver held KARACHI .District Malir Investigation Police have arrested a couple, involved in kidnapping children, and recovered two kidnapped girls from the couple’s house. One of recovered girls was kidnapped three years ago. A case of the kidnapping of 14-year-old Laiba…

CDC, Commissioner Reinforce Polio Eradication Commitment

The active role of the deputy commissioners across Karachi was also acknowledged KARACHI: A delegation from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Polio Branch discussed sustaining momentum toward eradication goals, including continued CDC technical assistance and capacity building of health department staff. The critical role of NSTOP…

Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 Highlights

The highlights of the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 showcase economic improvements, including a projected GDP growth of 5.7% and a primary surplus of 3.0% of GDP. Inflation has reached a record low of 0.3% in April 2025, while the current account surplus stands at $1.9 billion, bolstered by high remittances.…
Go toTop