Bill Gates de-worms Bundibugyo children
Oct 07, 2002
The Bill Gates Foundation-funded project to de-worm school children has been launched in Bundibugyo district
The Bill Gates Foundation-funded project to de-worm school children has been launched in Bundibugyo district, reports Emmanuel Mulondo.
The pilot project is to benefit 53 primary schools in the district but could be expanded if more donors come in.
The implementation began on Monday with a seminar for teachers who will distribute the drugs in schools.
Dr. Narcis Kabateraine, the national co-ordinator for prevention and control of bilharzia and intestinal worms, led the team that conducted the seminar.
Others on the team included Dr. Francis Kazibwe, Odetti Kweli of World Food Programme school feeding project, Florence Muhumuza and Bosco Opio from ministry of Health.
Odetti said the de-worming project was conceived after a baseline survey indicated that over 50% of the children were infected with bilharzia and intestinal worms.
“We realised we were trying to feed the children but the food we were giving them was just being shared with the worms. That is how we came up with this project,†Odetti said. She said the project would cost US$5,000 and is to be applied in eight other districts.
The pilot project is to benefit 53 primary schools in the district but could be expanded if more donors come in.
The implementation began on Monday with a seminar for teachers who will distribute the drugs in schools.
Dr. Narcis Kabateraine, the national co-ordinator for prevention and control of bilharzia and intestinal worms, led the team that conducted the seminar.
Others on the team included Dr. Francis Kazibwe, Odetti Kweli of World Food Programme school feeding project, Florence Muhumuza and Bosco Opio from ministry of Health.
Odetti said the de-worming project was conceived after a baseline survey indicated that over 50% of the children were infected with bilharzia and intestinal worms.
“We realised we were trying to feed the children but the food we were giving them was just being shared with the worms. That is how we came up with this project,†Odetti said. She said the project would cost US$5,000 and is to be applied in eight other districts.