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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 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. This training was completed in June 2010. 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 nationwide deworming program targets nearly 6 million individuals, who make up over 50% of the entire population. The program is being implemented entirely by local public health personnel and includes 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 targets all children ages 1 – 17 years (2.25 million individuals) and all women of childbearing age (1.9 million individuals). All will receive a single dose of albendazole,
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| • The second round targets all children ages 7 – 17 years and women of childbearing age using albendazole and PZQ. |
| • The total population treated will be approximately 6 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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