GHS de-worms children in basic schools in Accra

Accra, July 15, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has embarked on mass de-worming exercises in basic schools in the region to eliminate of Shistosomiasis.

Shistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, accounts for over 40 per cent of the worldwide burden of all tropical diseases, excluding malaria. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday Dr Nana Kwadwo Britwum, Programme Manager of Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme (NTD), said the children were being de-wormed with Praziquantel, the drug o= f choice to treat the disease and Abendazole (400 mg) or Mebendazole (500 mg) for the treatment of common intestinal worms.

He explained that a survey conducted in 2008 in all the districts of the country showed that 141 districts had prevalence that required treatmen= t and though the prevalence was below 20 per cent, there was the fear of re-infection.

The three-day mass de-worming exercise, implemented by the NTD, is in collaboration with the School Health Education Programme (SHEP of the Ghana Education Service with support from USAID, World Vision, VRA, Sight Savers Ghana and the Liverpool School of Tropical Diseases. Dr Britwum said treatment once a year was sufficient even in the most infected communities. Praziquantel would be given as a single dose but the number of pills has to be adjusted to the size of the child. He explained that school-age children typically had the highest likelihood of worm infection of any age group.

The most cost-effective way to deliver de-worming pills regularly to children was through schools because schools offered a readily available, extensive and sustained infrastructure with a skilled workforce that is in close contact with the community.

"The preferred method for schoolchildren is an inexpensive 91dose-p= ole' that uses the height of the child to estimate the dosage. The most commonly used drugs are administered as a single tablet to all children, regardless of size or age," he added.

Dr Britwum said de-worming pills were heat-stable and required no cold chain for delivery. 93With a shelf life of up to four years, they can be purchased in bulk to reduce costs and to ensure uninterrupted supply hence parents should allay the fears of its safety for their children." He said pilot exercises in some districts started in 2009 as the first round; others followed in 2010 as the second round and 64 districts in Greater Accra carrying out the exercise now as the third round. Dr Britwum said over 60 per cent of the population in the Greater Accr= a Region relied on rivers for their source of water and cited Ga East and Ga West as examples where prevalence was high.

He said shistosomiasis infections caused health problems that impaired physical and mental development, limited attendance and performance in school and hampered child's development.

With support from the local health system, teachers have been trained to administer the drugs safely to the school children. Dr Britwum urged parents to encourage their children to take the tablets in their respective schools.