National Deworming Day: JP Nadda calls for coordinated govt push to protect children from worm infections

New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday urged a coordinated effort among the Health, Women and Child Development, and Education departments to ensure that every child aged 1-19 years is covered under the National Deworming Day initiative.

In a post on X, Nadda said children should be protected from the health impact of worm infections and called for stronger coordination between government departments to ensure that no child is left behind. He also linked deworming with awareness around anaemia prevention and healthy practices, saying the initiative can contribute to the objectives of Anaemia Mukt Bharat and the broader vision of a healthy and developed India.

National Deworming Day is observed twice a year, on February 10 and August 10, to provide deworming treatment to children and adolescents aged 1-19 years. The programme uses schools and Anganwadi centres to reach children on a large scale.

On #NationalDewormingDay, let us come together to ensure that every child aged 1–19 years is dewormed and protected from the impact of worm infections.

A whole-of-government approach, with stronger coordination among Health, Women & Child Development and Education Departments,… pic.twitter.com/0iY4EsitYN

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 10, 2026

What are intestinal worm infections?

Soil-transmitted helminths are parasitic worms that can infect humans through contaminated soil, food, water or hands. Common infections include those caused by roundworms, whipworms and hookworms.

Children are particularly vulnerable in areas where sanitation and hygiene remain inadequate. Once inside the body, these parasites can live in the intestine and, depending on the type and intensity of infection, interfere with nutrition or cause blood loss.

Why can worms affect children’s nutrition?

Childhood is a period of rapid physical and brain development, making adequate nutrition particularly important. Persistent or heavy worm infections can contribute to poor nutritional status and anaemia.

Hookworms, for instance, attach to the intestinal lining and consume blood, which can contribute to iron loss and anaemia when the infection is significant. Other intestinal worms can affect nutrient availability and may contribute to poor growth and weakness.

Government health information has linked soil-transmitted helminth infections with anaemia, malnutrition and impaired physical and mental development.

How does deworming help?

India’s National Deworming Day programme uses albendazole to control soil-transmitted helminth infections among children and adolescents. The programme was launched in 2015 and has since been expanded across the country.

Deworming can help reduce the worm burden in children and has been associated with improvements in health, nutrition and school participation. The programme’s large-scale approach is designed to reach children even when they may not otherwise visit a healthcare facility.

Why anaemia prevention is part of the campaign

Nadda’s reference to anaemia is significant because some parasitic worm infections can contribute to iron deficiency, particularly when children have heavy or repeated infections.

Anaemia can leave children tired and weak and, when severe or prolonged, can affect physical and cognitive development. Preventing worm infections therefore forms one component of a broader strategy to improve children’s nutritional health.

However, deworming alone cannot prevent all forms of anaemia. Iron deficiency can have several causes, including inadequate dietary iron intake and other health conditions, and requires appropriate assessment and management.

Why hygiene remains important

Deworming treats an existing worm burden but does not make a child permanently immune to future infection.

Children can become reinfected if they continue to come into contact with contaminated soil, food or water. Handwashing with soap, using toilets, maintaining food and water hygiene and wearing footwear can help reduce exposure.

This makes sanitation and behavioural changes an important part of the National Deworming Day strategy.

Is albendazole safe for children?

Albendazole is widely used to treat soil-transmitted helminth infections and is generally well tolerated when administered according to recommended guidelines.

Some children, particularly those with heavier worm infections, may experience temporary symptoms such as nausea, mild abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or fatigue. Health authorities have protocols for managing adverse events during mass deworming campaigns.

Why National Deworming Day matters

The significance of National Deworming Day extends beyond giving children a single dose of medicine. The programme brings together deworming, hygiene awareness, sanitation and efforts to prevent nutritional problems on a large public-health scale.

Reaching children through schools and Anganwadi centres also allows the programme to cover large populations while bringing attention to children who may otherwise have limited access to healthcare.