Worms damage mental acuity of rural children<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Massive deworming, or medical treatment for worm
\nrelated diseases, is an important aspect which should be included
\nin community health education programs to help achieve an
\nintellectually sound rural society, experts say.<\/p>\n
Che Ghani Mohammod, a parasitologist from the School of
\nMedicine at University Kebangsaan Malaysia and Barnett L. Cline,
\nDirector of the Medical Center at Tulane University, Los Angeles,
\nU.S., told reporters at a seminar yesterday that recent studies
\nshowed worm related diseases had a significant effect on the
\nintellectual abilities of children.<\/p>\n
Mohammod, who did research on students at four primary schools
\nin the second poorest district of Malaysia's Trengganu region,
\nrevealed that the intensity of infection caused by Ascaris
\nlumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura worms were significantly
\ncorrelated with impaired problem solving abilities, poor school
\nperformance, underweight and low height for age.<\/p>\n
\"However, the pathways which the worms affect the children's
\nmentality is still unknown,\" he said, adding that this may either
\nbe through anemia, malnutrition or through direct causes.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar on community health education challenges
\nfor the community in the 21st century, Cline pointed out that
\nalthough deworming is only a temporary solution to the \"worm
\nproblem\" -- as health education plays a bigger role in increasing
\na community's hygiene in the long run -- deworming has its own
\nbenefits.<\/p>\n
\"Treatment is a very effective way to build confidence as
\npeople see the benefit quickly... In the long run, deworming not
\nonly treats but changes people's attitude and boosts their
\npotential and productivity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deworming consists of eliminating intestinal worms by taking
\nmedication in tablet form on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
Mohammod suggests children in all grades be dewormed every
\nfour to six months, rather than the present practice of deworming
\nonly first and sixth graders.<\/p>\n
Slum areas<\/p>\n
Cline explained that the most common worm is the giant round
\nworm, or Ascaris, which infects 90 percent of children in
\nIndonesia, most of whom live in rural or slum areas where
\nsanitation is poor.<\/p>\n
It enters their bodies and intestines through food and
\ncontact.<\/p>\n
Deworming at regular intervals is considered a cheaper and
\nfaster method of controlling infection, compared to the
\nrelatively slow improvement of health education and sanitation.<\/p>\n
\"They are even found in children who look normal, or healthy,\"
\nCline added.<\/p>\n
By treating the children, he said, they would benefit by
\ngrowing faster and would eat more, be stronger, more active and
\nlearn quicker.<\/p>\n
Manouchehr Yazhari of SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals,
\nU.K., said current figures show that two billion people suffer
\nfrom parasites while studies suggest that a global, major
\napproach should be made to resolve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Programs would be more effective if they were carried out on
\na joint basis between government authorities, non-governmental
\norganizations, the private sector, academics or experts and
\nmembers of the community,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mass treatment projects, which rely on personnel with limited
\ntraining to provide health education, medication or specific
\nhealth services directly to specific groups at schools, work
\nsites or households, are found to be more cost efficient than
\nindividual, case by case medication, he said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi in his opening speech encouraged
\nmembers of the Center for Education and Training of Health
\nPersonnel, who organized the seminar, to boost activities, \"and
\nresist from boring people.\"<\/p>\n
\"Don't talk only, act... Make the community really count on
\nthe Center because they personally need it in their daily life,
\nnot because they are obligated to listen to the trainers,\" he
\nsaid.(pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/worms-damage-mental-acuity-of-rural-children-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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