What is the Pakistan Deworming Initiative?
The Pakistan Deworming Initiative (PDI) provides school-aged children, from 5 to 14 years, with deworming treatment at schools and in communities, to control intestinal worm infections, across at-risk districts in the country.
What Are Intestinal Worms?
Worms are parasites, which live in human intestines for food and survival. Intestinal worm infections – or soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections – affect children’s health, leading to anemia, malnourishment, and issues with mental and physical development
What Are Intestinal Worms?
Worms are parasites, which live in human intestines for food and survival. Intestinal worm infections – or soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections – affect children’s health, leading to anemia, malnourishment, and issues with mental and physical development.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
17 Million
Annual Targets for Deworming
23 Million
Treatments Delivered (2019-2022)
45
Total At-Risk Districts
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
The Initiative in Action
Health problems among Pakistan’s youth mean children are less likely to attend school;
To help children follow their educational aspirations and dreams for the future, PDI is targeting to deworm
17 million at-risk children across the 45 districts of Pakistan annually.
Why Mass Deworming?
Delivered through trusted sources
The existing health and educational infrastructure and a network of teachers and health workers who are trusted and can be trained easily are leveraged to deliver treatments.
Learn MoreSafe & effective treatment
Mebendazole tablets have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as an extremely safe and effective treatment, that is available free of charge to all school-aged children.
Learn MoreSafe & effective treatment
Mebendazole tablets have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as an extremely safe and effective treatment, that is available free of charge to all school-aged children
Learn MoreLong-term impact for a brighter future
Rigorous evidence shows that mass deworming not only has a positive impact on children’s education and health, but also on their economic standing as adults.
Learn More
Recent Updates
Update from Balochistan Deworming Initiative: ![]()
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The 2nd Working Group meeting for the Balochistan Deworming Initiative was held on November 10, 2023, with Mr. Lal Jan Jaffer, Secretary Planning & Development, Government of Balochistan, as the chair. Representatives from the Health Department, Government of Balochistan, and Health & Education Section offices of Planning & Development Department attended the meeting. The initiative, in collaboration with IRD, has successfully dewormed children aged 5 to 14 years in 46 at-risk districts, treating 24 million children from 2019-2023. ![]()
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The Round 1 of the Balochistan Deworming Initiative in May 2022 achieved 52% coverage, treating 93,680 children out of a target population of 179,198. Round 2, scheduled for January 2024, aims to treat 191,332 children using a Hybrid Model (School + Household) involving ~1,200 teachers and health workers in districts Hub and Lasbela.![]()
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The Working Group decided to establish a Steering Committee and a Technical Working Group (Implementation Committee) to oversee the initiative. The Secretary Planning instructed the Health section to explore the feasibility of procuring the medicine for deworming in other districts of Balochistan, utilizing PPHI and Health centers. The Deworming campaign, scheduled for the 2nd week of January in Hub and Lasbela districts, will be a focal point in December's District Education Group and District Health Group meetings. Further, a meeting will be held to review and adapt the National Strategic & Policy Framework and Guideline 2022-27 as per provincial needs after the deworming campaign.![]()
Mr. Saboor Khan Kakar, Additional Chief Secretary Development, was briefed on the initiative and approved the formation of a Steering Committee and the adaptation of the National Strategic Framework & Operational Guidelines 2022-27 for Balochistan. ![]()
The District Management Committees of Hub and Lasbela will meet in November for orientation and planning of the Deworming campaign.![]()
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#paytkaykeerayduursehatbharpoor #PDI #Balochistan
IRD team met with Federal Minister of Health, Mr. Nadeem Jan. Honorable Minister was apprised about the program and achievements across 45 at-risk districts. He praised the program team and technical assistance partners IRD and EA on the succesful achievement of around 24 Million treatments delivered since PDI's inception. He offered full support to the program for its sustainability. ![]()
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PDI is proud of the stakeholders and hardworking ground staff. Working together since 2018 for the better future of at-risk school age children.![]()
#paytkaykeerayduursehatbharpoor
Pakistan Deworming Initiative is proud to be recognized and presented at the Twenty-First Meeting Of The Regional Programme Review Group And National Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme Managers hosted by World Health Organization (WHO) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from 19-21 September 2023![]()
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Objectives of the Meeting:![]()
1️⃣ Review country-specific progress in 2022-2023.![]()
2️⃣ Share recommendations from the recent global/WHO guidelines published in 2022-2023.![]()
3️⃣ Provide valuable inputs to countries on NTD control/elimination strategies for 2024.![]()
4️⃣ Collaboratively develop country plans for a transformative 2024.![]()
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Mr. Waleed Rabbani, Team Lead Pakistan Deworming Initiative, shared insights on Pakistan Deworming Initiative's Experience in Reducing Medicines Wastage and highlighted the remarkable milestone of delivering 24 Million treatments cumulatively since 2019 across 45 at-risk districts of Pakistan! 🎉![]()
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PDI recognizes the immaculate efforts of its partners IRD and Evidence Action as we're making great strides towards controlling the Soil Transmitted Helminths and intestinal worm infections. Let's continue to introduce the culture of deworming in Pakistan and improve the health of children!![]()
#PDI #IRD #evidence Action #globalhealth #WHO #sharmelsheikh2023
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