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Nationwide Deworming Program in Tajikistan
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| The burden of soil-transmitted helminthic infections in Central Asia is extraordinarily high. Over 50% of all school-aged children are infected with intestinal parasites. The most common offenders are E. vermicularis (pinworm), A.lumbricoides (ascaris or roundworm), Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm). As a consequence of the high worm burden the median hemoglobin of schoolchildren is in the anemic range. |
- The main causes of infestation in Tajikistan are the following:
- Contamination of water sources with raw sewage
- Low living standards
- Lack of sanitation education
- Intestinal worms at the level found in Tajikistan cause children to suffer from:
- Contamination of water sources with raw sewage
- Low living standards
- Lack of sanitation education
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most effective way to reduce the morbidity associated with these soil-transmitted helminths is to mount deworming campaigns using the safe, inexpensive and highly effective treatment with mebendazole/albendazole and praziquantel .
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A Comprehensive Approach to Deworming
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The nationwide deworming program in Tajikistan began in 2011 and is modeled after the successful program in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which emphasizes local ownership and sustainability. Thus the first step in preparing for such a nationwide initiative is to build local capacity by modernizing the laboratory diagnostic capability of the country through intensive training seminars for lab specialists to detect and identify these parasites. The trained Tajik lab specialists then conducted a nationwide baseline study, which showed that the burden of intestinal worms among the general population exceeds 50%.
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The program will be implemented entirely by local public health personnel and include treatment with albendazole and praziquantel (PZQ), social mobilization, educational activities emphasizing personal hygiene, and monitoring by RVF personnel.
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In accordance with WHO recommendations there will be two rounds of deworming:
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| • The first round will target all children ages 1 – 14 years and all women of childbearing age who will receive a single dose of albendazole, and all children 6-16 years of age who will receive praziquantel. |
| • The second round targets all children ages 1 – 14 years and women of childbearing age using albendazole only. |
| • The total population treated will be approximately 4.5 million individuals. |
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Following the completion of the two rounds of deworming Tajik specialist will conduct a second epidemiological study, which will allow local health officials to compare pre and post treatment rates of infestation and assess the need for follow-up measures.
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