Thousands Fall ill after taking Albendazole Pill, NHRC sought Report from Health Ministry

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought action taken report over thousands of Children fall sick across various parts of the country on 10 Feb, hours after being administered pills under a nationwide deworming programme.

In Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Maharastra, Madhya Pradesh,Uttarpradesh and Rajasthan and other states, many children complained of symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to nausea and stomach ache after taking albendazole pills on National deworming Day.

Acting on a complaint filed by an Odisha based rights activist Akhand of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR), the Commission has directed the Secretary of Ministry of Health and family welfare to file report in the matter within four weeks.

The petitioner has alleged that more than 200 children across the Odisha have fallen ill after consuming the deworming drug ‘Albendazole’. About 100 children fell ill at the Maghra Middle School in Biharsharif district headquarters of Nalanda, 37 in Jamui, 36 in Sitamarhi, four in East Champaran and two in Rohtas district. The incident in Haryana occurred at the Hindu Vidyapeeth School in Sonepat, Students reportedly started vomiting after taking Albendazole tablets, while some also fainted. Eighteen children were taken to the government hospital.

Seven students at a government primary school in Bamnidih block and five students in another government school of Jaijaipur block of Janjgir-Champa district complained of uneasiness and nausea after consuming anti-worm tablets. In Jashpur and Sukma also several students have fallen sick after consuming the pills.

In Maharastra, there are reports that several children fall ill after being administered de-worming pills.National Deworming Day turned out to be a nightmare for over 100 children in over 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Ten students of a government primary school in Fatehabad fell ill after consuming albendazole tablets.

Akhand alleged that, though thousands children fell ill, no probe ordered has given. Health officials are taking it very easily. He has raised questions over timing of administering the medicines to the school children.

The Complainant has prayed for a probe order into these incidents and testing of quality of medicines provided. Hearing the matter, the Commission has called for an action taken report in the matter within four weeks time.