Honorable Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs, Mr. Ali Nawaz Awan, along with Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Dr. Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination and Senator Fawzia Arshad launched the 3rd annual mass deworming campaign of the School-based Deworming Programme in Islamabad Capital Territory at Islamabad Model School IMS (I-VIII), F-7/1, Islamabad. The school-based deworming program will target 574,000 school-age children within approximately 2000 Government and Private schools, as well as Deeni Madaris, in Islamabad Capital Territory during the deworming week from 30th August 2021 to 4th September 2021. During the Deworming week, all children enrolled in classes 1 – 10 in Government / Private Schools, Deeni Madaris and out-of-school children, aged 5 – 14 years will be administered Mebendazole 500mg deworming medicine by the trained teachers and Lady Health Workers. Mr. Ali Nawaz Awan, Chief Guest of the event, remarked that “Deworming is essential for a child’s physical and cognitive growth, and ensures resistance to other infections and improves school performance. It will significantly contribute towards the Government of Pakistan’s top health priorities which are reducing malnutrition and anemia!” Ms. Wajiha Qamar, MNA, Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Education & Professional Training, appreciated the efforts of the implementation team and emphasised the importance of Deworming Programme in improving health of children and resultant improvement in their education. Dr. Nausheen Hamid, MNA, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, said that the school-based deworming program in Pakistan will not only improve the health of our children but will also benefit our society as a whole. World Health Organisation Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Mahipala appreciated the efforts of the Government of Pakistan and IRD Pakistan. He shared that “over 1.5 Billion people are globally infected with Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH). Of this number, over 835 Million children are in need of treatment.” Country Director for Technical Assistance partner to the Government, IRD Pakistan, Ms. Aneeta Pasha and Program Director Pakistan Deworming Initiative, Mr. Qadeer Baig expressed their pride and said, “Today’s launch is the culmination of a lot of work by various stakeholders in health, education and planning & development departments. Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, being the cross cutting entity, is leading the coordination at national level through “National Steering & Coordination Committee” for Pakistan Deworming Initiative with strong technical support from IRD Pakistan. Mr. Muhammad Farooq, Joint Secretary / Chairman Implementation Committee, School Based Deworming Programme (SBDP) in ICT, Mr. Javed Iqbal Mirza, Project Director (SBDP), Rana Musa Tahir, Assistant Commissioner City, Dr. Zaeem Zia, District Health Officer, officers / officials from Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Federal Directorate of Education, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, National Commission for Human Development, Directorate General Basic Education Community Schools, Directorate General Religious Education, Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & Coordination, were also present at the event. The honourable guests urged parents and guardians to send their children aged 5 – 14 to their nearest government or private school or Deeni Madaris, for a free and safe deworming medicine, during the deworming week which is set to be conducted from 30th August 2021 till 4th September 2021.
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