UNICEF’s Deworming Programme in the North Caucasus
“I am so happy that there are organizations that take care of children and their health. The medicine supplied by the UNICEF helps children a lot,” Maret R., a resident of the Ingush city of Malgobek, writes in her thank-you letter. Her daughters, 11-year-old Mariam and 12-year-old Khava, attend the school where a UNICEF-sponsored deworming programme is being carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Ingushetia. In August 2007, ministries of health of the Republic of Ingushetia and the Chechen Republic approached UNICEF with a request to support the implementation of a deworming programme at local schools. In September 2007, the programme was launched in both republics. Its goal is to reduce the extent and scope of intestinal parasitic infections among school-age children. Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the most common problems related to child health. Besides causing general discomfort, the presence of worms in children’s bodies also causes serious symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea and cough. Their presence also leads to a loss of blood, as worms suck it from the intestinal wall. According to the estimates of the ministries of health of the two republics, about 70% of local children are infected by worms, causing chronic anaemia, weakness, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems, which, in turn, affect the child’s ability to concentrate on his/her studies at school. Maret tells that her girls did not eat well and complained about stomach cramp all the time. They often missed school, which of course reflected badly on their grades. Maret is not the only parent that encountered these problems. Falling standards of living in the region due to last several years’ events in the Chechen Republic contributed significantly to the spread of intestinal parasitic infections. Apart from the deworming programme UNICEF is also involved in other important health initiatives in North Caucusus: mother and child health protection, water and sanitation, youth health and development, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Deworming programme became one of the most recent and prioritized initiatives. After taking deworming tablets Maret’s daughters felt much better, their cramps disappeared, appetite returned, they started sleeping well and getting good grades at school. Maret says: “Khava grew taller and colour returned to her face!” For more information, please, contact Zalina Ikoyeva, Communication Assistant, UNICEF North Caucasus, tel. +7 928 732 00 71, e-mail: zikoyeva@unicef.org
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