Mangaluru: Stressing upon the importance of de-worming and ensuring better health and nutrition for children in the age group of 1-19, the department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India will organize National De-Worming day on February 8, 2019.

Dakshin Kannada DHO Dr. Ramakrishna, on Wednesday, held a press meet at his office here to brief the media about the plans of district administration for February 8, drive.

Speaking to the presspersons Dr. Ramakrishna, informed that the district health administration has set a target of 5,15,433 students across the district between the age of 1-19, who will receive the medicine in their respective schools, PU Colleges and ITI institutes across the district.

Speaking of the rumors of side effects of the medicine, Dr. Ramakrishna cleared “There is absolutely no side-effects of the medicine, it is safe and is the need of the body for every child aged between 1-19 years”.

“It’s a 400mg tablet, which de-worms the body. Kids in the age group of 1-2 years will be given half the tablet (equivalent to 200mg tablet), while students and kids of age group between 2-19 years will be given full dose. It has been made compulsory for all the schools and students to take the medicine, nobody can refrain from taking the tablet” Ramakrishna added while also stating that students and kids who are suffering from fever or viral infections, or those who have suffered it in the recent past can take the exception.

He also requested parents to not reject the medicine for their pupils nor pressurize the school officials for exception for their kids.

The students who fall into the age group, but haven’t been admitted to school or Anganwadi for any reason can also avail the medicine at their nearest school on Feb 8, free of cost.

He said a whopping 98% of the target was achieved last year by medicating nearly four lakh students.

About De-worming day:

The National Deworming Day is an initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to make every child in the country worm free. This is one of the largest public health programs reaching large number of children during a short period.

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Ostrava (Czech Republic), Jun 24 (PTI): Indian javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday clinched the title at the Golden Spike meet in his maiden appearance here, his back-to-back win in a top-class competition.

Fresh from his Paris Diamond League win on June 20, Chopra emerged on top in a nine-man field here though with a modest effort of 85.29m in the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event.

He had skipped the last two editions of Golden Spike -- an event that his coach Jan Zelezny won nine times in a storied career -- due to fitness issues.

The 27-year-old Chopra has had an impressive season so far, having won his first Diamond League title in two years in Paris after also breaching the elusive 90m mark during his second place finish in Doha DL in May.