A pilot project in India aims to improve the reporting systems for programs to control infections of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) or intestinal worms.
The Task Force’s Children Without Worms (CWW) program is working with the nonprofit Vitamin Angels to help the organization better track the number of deworming treatments administered in India. This information is critical to assessing progress by Vitamin Angels and India in reaching the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2020 goal of treating at least 75 percent of children in areas where intestinal worms are a public health problem.
“In the short term, this project will help Vitamin Angels with assessing and reporting their ongoing deworming work,” said CWW Director Rubina Imtiaz, MD. “In the long term, the tools that we jointly develop will help other organizations involved in STH control track their progress towards the 2020 goal.”
More than 1.5 billion people are infected with STH, which can cause stunted growth, anemia, cognitive impairment, and reduced vaccine effectiveness.
Imtiaz said improved reporting systems will also help inform decision-making about where future deworming efforts should be focused.
For media inquiries, please contact Chief Communications and Development Officer Poul Olson at polson@taskforce.org or 404-687-5611.
Source: https://www.taskforce.org/newsroom/pilot-project-aims-strengthen-reporting-systems-deworming-programs
Photo: Francesca Abakah Bentil, a teacher St Monica's Girls School, explains what soil-transmitted helminths are and how they are treated by albendazole. Children Without Worms, a program of The Task Force for Global Health, is partnering with Vitamin Angels to help improve the reporting systems for programs to control infections of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) or intestinal worms. Photo Credit: GSK