ISLAMABAD: While the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies Pakistan as a high burden country for soil transmitted helminths (STH), a deworming campaign has been started in educational institutions of the federal capital.

STH refers tointestinal worms transmitted through contaminated soil that infects humans.

Overall, STH has been reported by 20pc and in some areas by 50pc among children in the age group of five and 14 years in the capital. The campaign aims to give deworming tablets to 481,823 children in the said age group.

Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain, after inaugurating the campaign, on Tuesday said it was the responsibility of the state to focus on education and health of new generation so that it would play a role in the development of the country.

In 2018, the first STH survey held in 40 districts across the country showed that an estimated combined school-age (5-15 years old) population of 17 million children were infected with STH and it suggested the need for widespread deworming. The survey, conducted by WHO, Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), Indus Health Network and other organisations, was held in five districts of Punjab, six districts of Sindh, 16 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one district of Balochistan, five districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, four districts of AJK and three agencies of Fata.

The STH infections result from poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and tend to have highest prevalence in children of school-going age. The consequences of chronic worm infections in children are both widespread and debilitating. Worm infections interfere with nutrient uptake; can lead to anemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development besides posing a serious threat to children’s health, education and productivity.

Infected children are often too sick or tired to concentrate at school, or to attend at all. STH exacts a clear toll on human capital, hindering economic development, yet not all at-risk children are currently treated.

In 2020, during a campaign, the condition of some children deteriorated after having tablets.

Some of the parents claimed that they were not aware that medicine would be given to their children despite the fact that there was direction to give tablets after getting written permission from parents.

On the other hand, footage of children, who were crying, panicked parents. However, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and ministry of NHS claimed that just a few children had medical issues and the situation remained under control.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2023