Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation (RVF) announces the successful completion of a nationwide deworming campaign in Kyrgyzstan, in which 3.1 million individuals, including all pre-school and school-aged children and women of childbearing age, were treated for intestinal worms. The campaign, financed by the U.S. Transit Center at Manas and the U.S. State Department, was conducted entirely by Kyrgyz health care workers, community leaders and teachers and reached over 90% of the targeted population.play free games juegos gratis auto japan

In addition to two rounds of treatment with the deworming medication albendazole, the campaign included building local capacity by training lab specialist in modern diagnostic methods of helminthic infections, a pre-and post-treatment assessment of the worm burden across Kyrgyzstan to measure the efficacy of the campaign, and the provision of teaching materials on basic hygienic practices to teachers and parents to prevent re-infection among children.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health declared the deworming campaign a public health priority because of the high burden of intestinal parasites among the general population. Pre-campaign epidemiologic surveys sponsored by the RVF indicated parasite burdens of over 50% among adults and children.  Offending pathogens included Enterobius, Ascaris, and Trichuria. These intestinal worms cause children to suffer from reduced growth rates, learning problems, poor school attendance, malnutrition and anemia.

Representatives of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, the U.S. Transit Center at Manas and the RVF made regular  site visits to monitor and evaluate the deworming campaign. A video produced by the Transit Center at Manas during the final round of deworming in and around the capital Bishkek is available here.

In addition to building local capacity, long-term financial sustainability is a key component of all RVF programs.  By January 2013 the Kyrgyz government plans to finance 100%   of the total cost of continuing the annual deworming of school-aged children.  Thus the Kyrgyz government’s sustainability plan will provide significant long-term protection to children, the most vulnerable segment of the population.