Purpose of national deworming day?

NORCET 2 -2021 (Shift-2)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 2 -2021 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The primary goal of National Deworming Day (NDD) is to eradicate intestinal worms, specifically Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).
This government initiative targets all children and adolescents aged 1-19 years for mass drug administration.
By eliminating worm infestations, the program directly combats malnutrition, anemia, and impaired growth.
The program is implemented biannually through schools and Anganwadi centers using the drug Albendazole.

Option B: Improving breastfeeding is not a goal of the National Deworming Day. Breastfeeding promotion is addressed through other maternal and child health programs.
Option C: While reducing worm load improves child health and can indirectly contribute to a lower Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), it is a secondary benefit, not the primary purpose. The program has no direct link to Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
Option D: Eradicating poverty is a very broad socioeconomic objective. While improved health from deworming can lead to better educational outcomes and long-term economic potential, NDD is a specific public health intervention, not an economic program.

Visual 1: Infographic: Key facts about National Deworming Day, showing the target age group (1-19 years), dates (Feb 10 & Aug 10), medication (Albendazole), and implementation sites (schools, Anganwadis).
Visual 2: Diagram: The life cycle of a common Soil-Transmitted Helminth (like Ascaris or hookworm) to illustrate how infection occurs through contaminated soil and why regular deworming is necessary to break the cycle.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Health Programs in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses, especially community health nurses and school health nurses, are at the forefront of NDD implementation. Their role includes administering Albendazole tablets, educating children and parents about hygiene, and ensuring high coverage.
Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections are a major public health problem causing anemia and malnutrition in children, which in turn impairs their physical and cognitive development. NDD is a high-impact, cost-effective intervention to combat this.
What if? A child is sick with fever or diarrhea on National Deworming Day? The guideline is to not administer the deworming tablet to acutely ill children. They should be dewormed on the designated 'mop-up day' after they have recovered.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'National Deworming Day' program.
Next, focus on the keyword 'purpose'. This asks for the primary, direct goal of the program.
Evaluate each option to find the most direct and primary objective. The term 'deworming' itself means to get rid of worms.
Analyze the other options as potential secondary benefits or unrelated concepts. Improving IMR is an indirect outcome, while improving breastfeeding and eradicating poverty are either unrelated or far too broad for this specific program.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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