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| Deworming Program in Azerbaijan |
 | School child at an IDP camp receives deworming medication as part of a school nutrition program |
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Initiative in Azerbaijan to Eliminate Intestinal Parasites in Schoolchildren |
| Goal is to improve the health and intellectual development of country’s most impoverished children |
| • | Over 260,000 schoolchildren, representing nearly 50% of all schoolchildren ages 7 to 12 years - many of them from internally displaced families - to benefit from program | | • | Dates of Implementation : September 2006 – May 2009 | | | |
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| Background |
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| • | Worms (intestinal parasites) cause children to suffer from: | | | | 1. | reduced growth rates | | 2. | learning problems & poor school attendance | | 3. | malnutrition | | 4. | anemia |
| | • | Surveys indicate 1/3 of all schoolchildren in Azerbaijan infected due poor hygiene and lack of awareness | | • | Treatment with the drug mebendazole is safe, highly effective, and inexpensive. | | • | RVF uses a special odor-free, peppermint-flavored chewable tablet that kids like | | | |
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| Success of Pilot Program |
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| • | In 2006-2007 VRF partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) and Azerbaijani Ministry of Health (MOH) in a pilot program targeting 16,000 school children and reducing rate of infestation from 31% to 3% | | • | Baseline studies showed over 30% of children harbored one of three worms: Pin worms (enterobiasis), round worms (ascariasis) or the whipworm (trichuris trichiura) | | • | Treatment with 2 doses of mebendazole at 6 month intervals and raising of awareness among children, families, teachers, and medical staff reduced the worm burden to less than 3%. | | | |
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| National Initiative |
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| • | In September 2007 RVF and MOH expanded the de-worming program to benefit 150,000 children ages 7 to 12 years in 17 districts. | | • | In September 2008 RVF and MOH expanded the de-worming program to benefit an additional 100,000 children ages 7 to 12 years in 29 districts. | | | | Program includes: | | • | Lab-based assessment of worm burden in children pre- and post-treatment | | • | 2 doses of mebendazole at 6 month intervals | | • | Training in personal hygiene for children, families, and teachers, including provision of hand-washing supplies, to reduce rate of re-infection among schoolchildren |
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| Sustainability |
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| • | The MOH has full financial responsibility for administrative expenses. | | • | Azerbaijani health care workers responsible for implementing program | | • | MOH committed to assume 100% financial responsibility for program in 2009 |
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