The Health Ministry will start distributing de-worming tablets to schools throughout the country from this Thursday in an effort to see that children have enough micronutrients in their body which is lost through worm infections.

Health Ministry's media liaison officer Iliesa Tora said they are targeting very young children, school aged children up to 19 years including children who are out of school and women of child bearing age which also includes pregnant and lactating mothers.

He said after distributing the de-worming tablets, they will distribute vitamin A and iron supplementation.

Tora said preschool children need micronutrients for physical and mental development as worm free children grow faster and learn better.

He said they have joined hands with UNICEF and the Education Ministry to see that the national iron and multi vitamin supplementation runs for five years and will be officially launched this Thursday.