55,500 treated for worms in north

By Carol Natukunda

A TOTAL of 55,500 children aged between one and 14 in the north are undergoing treatment for worms. They received a single oral dose of Albendazole, a medicine effective against worms.

The four-week campaign, which runs up to February 16, is an initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In a statement released yesterday, the Red Cross asserted that children living in internally displaced people’s camps in Kitgum and Pader districts were heavily exposed to worms, owing to the camps’ poor sanitary conditions.

The area medical coordinator, Dr. Luca Falqui, explained: “Given the living conditions of the children in the camps, this treatment against intestinal parasites will counter the consequences of chronic worm infections, such as anaemia, stunted growth, poor intellectual development and damage to vital organs.”

He added: “Periodic targeted treatment such as this can significantly improve the children’s health by reducing the burden of disease. It can lead to a 10% gain in weight.”