Sanitation key to wiping out worms

JAKARTA: Health officials warned yesterday that a pure medical remedy to eradicate worm infestation and disease was not sufficient, but required a change in people's daily attitude towards personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Head of the Ministry of Health Directorate for Public Nutrition Supervision, Dr. Benny A. Kodyat, told The Jakarta Post that children had to get accustomed to hygienic habits, such as washing hands, bathing and wearing footwear outside the house, if helminthiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms, is to be eradicated.

"If they can pick up these good habits, I think we can eradicate the disease," he said.

A study conducted in 1995 in the eastern part of Indonesia found that in many villages surveyed, between 40 percent to 70 percent of residents were infected with the disease.

The study found that the disease usually infected those in villages with poor sanitation.

In all cases children were the most vulnerable. Once infected, immunity is weakened causing paleness, tiredness and drowsiness.

Benny was speaking yesterday at a seminar on the Supplementary Food Program for Elementary School Children (PMT-AS).

PMT-AS was launched by the government in July 1996 as part of presidential instructions on least-developed villages (IDT).

Along with supplementary food, the government provides worm disease medication to elementary school students.

So far there has been no survey on the success of the latest effort to wipe out the disease. (09)