Survey tests students for worms

Survey tests students for worms

SERIBU ISLANDS: A survey has reported that residents of
Panggang island had the highest incidence of intestinal worms in
the province of Jakarta.

A laboratory test revealed that 575 students or 86 percent of
the 670 tested at three state-owned elementary schools in
Panggang subdistrict were infected with intestinal worms.

"Many parents here are not aware of good hygiene for the
family and their children, despite the ongoing public health
campaign at school," said Abdul Muhyi, the school principal of
SDN Panggang 01.

Island residents, mainly high school students, responded
positively to the survey, which has been conducted by the Kusuma
Buana Foundation since 1995, with more than 1,000 participants
submitting fecal samples for lab tests.

The foundation's report said that the prevalence of intestinal
worms among those students surveyed had dropped by 10 percent
from 96 percent in 1997 to 86 percent in 2002.

Tanjung Priok was previously considered the area with the
highest incidence of intestinal worms as 27 percent of the 12,148
students surveyed at 85 elementary schools were infected. --JP