Mankind Pharma and Lucknow Pediatric Association Lead India’s Largest Deworming Awareness Drive on National Deworming Day

In a landmark step towards combating the silent yet widespread burden of parasitic worm infections among children, Mankind Pharma, in partnership with the Lucknow Pediatric Association, organized India’s largest public health awareness campaign on the occasion of National Deworming Day (Rashtriya Krimi Mukti Diwas).

Branded as “Dvermin Live”, the event brought together over 150 senior pediatricians physically in Lucknow, alongside 5000+ doctors participating virtually from across India, making it the largest-ever awareness initiative dedicated to deworming in the country.

Aligned with the Government of India’s theme, “Eliminate STH – Invest in a Healthier Future for Children,” the campaign spotlighted the critical importance of protecting children from Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections. It served as a powerful convergence of leading pediatricians, public health officials, and global medical voices – united in their committed to ensuring that every Indian child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and worm-free.

Dr. Shally Awasthi, renowned pediatrician and former Head of Departments of King George’s Medical University (KGMU), delivered the keynote address highlighting the insidious impact of STH infections, “These infections silently deprive children of vital nutrients, impair their immunity, and contribute significantly to chronic undernutrition. The damage caused by STH is invisible but devastating,” she stated. “Deworming is not just a treatment, it is an act of protection and empowerment for our children.”

Dr. Shalini Bhasin, a senior pediatrician and respected public health advocate emphasized, “STH infections affect far more than just physical health; they influence a child’s cognition, attention span, and academic performance. Worms don’t just drain the body, they dull the mind. Regular deworming helps children regain not only their strength but also their confidence and learning potential.”

On the scientific front, Dr. Monjori Mitra from Kolkata shared strong trial-based evidence supporting biannual deworming in school-aged children. Her presentation reinforced the WHO and Indian government’s recommendation to conduct mass deworming programs twice a year, particularly in endemic regions.

The policy landscape was outlined by Dr. Bharat Lal Pandey of the WHO Action Group who reviewed the nation’s decade-long progress in lowering worm prevalence and laid out a future-forward roadmap for continued implementation, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns in both urban and rural areas.

The event concluded on a unifying and emotional note, with participating pediatricians taking a collective pledge to invest in the nation’s future by ensuring every child receives timely deworming. While medications like Albendazole remain central to treatment, speakers reinforced the need for holistic efforts including education, hygiene promotion, and sustained public-private partnerships.

With this historic initiative, Mankind Pharma reiterated its commitment to national health priorities, especially those centered around child well-being. This Rashtriya Krimi Mukti Diwas was not just a calendar date but it was a national movement fuelled by care, science, and hope.

About Mankind Pharma

Mankind Pharma (BSE: 543904 | NSE: MANKIND) is one of the largest pharmaceutical company in India, which focuses on the domestic market with its Pan India presence. Mankind operates at the intersection of the Indian pharmaceutical formulations and consumer healthcare sectors with the aim of providing quality products at affordable prices. The company is a leading player in the domestic pharmaceuticals business present across acute and chronic therapeutic areas including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, antidiabetic, neuro/CNS, gynaecology, VMN and respiratory, among others with a strategy to increase chronic presence going ahead. In the consumer healthcare business, the company operates in the condoms, pregnancy detection, emergency contraceptives, antacid powders, vitamin and mineral supplements and anti-acne preparations categories, among others, with several category-leading brands. Following the acquisition of BSV, Mankind Pharma has further strengthened its leadership in the domestic women’s health segment. Mankind’s distribution network includes a robust field force of ~17,700 professionals, and a reach extending to over five lakh doctors across urban and rural markets. The company has 30 manufacturing facilities in India manufacturing a wide range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, syrups, vials, ampoules, blow fill seal, soft and hard gels, eye drops, creams, contraceptives and other over-the-counter products. Mankind has a consistent track record of product innovation through 6 dedicated R&D facilities backed by more than 770+ scientists. 

For more information, visit www.mankindpharma.com or contact:

Natasha Raj – 9205057627 – natasha.raj@mankindpharma.com

Apoorva Sharma – 9999739452 – apoorva.sharma@adfactorspr.com