ISLAMABAD: Children studying in Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) run schools were given de-worming medicines on Thursday.

The campaign for administering the medicine to children between the ages of five and 15 was conducted by the Ministry of Federal Education and the Ministry of National Health Services and Planning Commission.

Sources said in some schools few children complained of nausea and after taking the medicine. They said the condition of two students in separate schools in Chatha Bakhtawar deteriorated after taking the medicine. Ambulances were sent to the schools to take the students to hospital.

However, an official of the Islamabad Capital Territory administration said the children recovered soon and did not need to be taken to hospital. He said they had briefly fainted due to taking the medicine on an empty stomach.

“This campaign is very imperative for the health of students,” he said.

When contacted, Director Traiuning FDE Sadia Adnan, who is coordinating the drive, said such complaints have been received from a few schools. But it is natural and the medicine is certified by World Health Organisation (WHO).

“When a child complains of a stomach pain soon after taking the medicine, it means the drug is effectively working.”

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2019