Mangaluru: The Health Department will hold a de-worming campaign on Wednesday February 10 across the district, District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao informed on Saturday, February 6.

Addressing a press meet at his office here, Rao said that the department intends to immunize 4,16,312 children from 1-19 years of age, from all parasitic diseases. “Adequate tablets have already been supplied to all Primary Health Care centers. The staff will visit all anganawadi centres, government and aided schools and ensure that the students consume these albendazole tablets”, he said.

Rao prescribed a dose of 200mg of these tablets for children in the age group of 1-2 years, to be crushed and consumed with drinking water. For the rest, one chewable tablet of 400mg has been prescribed.

Rao said that the tablets will be supplied to private schools on demand. It will also be available at PHCs.

He insisted that children on other medication be left out just to ensure their safety. A mop-up task to immunize these excluded children will be held on February 15, he said adding that the tablets have no side effects.