The Haiti Ministry of Public Health and
reported the results of a survey today that reveals
that about a quarter of children aged 6 to 15 years
suffer from some form of intestinal parasites.
Ascaris lumbricoides/CDC
In addition, about 80
percent of children in
this age group do not
know how one can
be infected with
intestinal worms and
do not know how to protect from contamination.
The health officials investigation shows that 60
percent of schools don not have adequate toilets
and 40 percent have no potable drinking water.
Dr. Florence D. Guillaume, Minister of Public
Health called the situation “alarming” and said
that Haitians tend to “trivialize” this public health
issue.
Intestinal worms can cause serious health
consequences including developmental and
learning issues in children, plus some intestinal
parasites contribute to serious anemia. Guillaume
said, “Now, we have mobile school clinics to
deworming in schools, but recontamination is
problematic.”
The survey was conducted between October and
November 2013, on 5,160 pupils in 203 schools in 10 departments of Haiti. Several partners have supported the Ministry of Health in carrying out this survey including the Ministry of Education, the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DINEPA), PAHO/WHO and UNICEF.
Intestinal worms include Ascaris lumbricoides
(roundworms), Trichiuris trichiura (whipworm)
and hookworms species.
Globally, some 2 billion people are infected with
intestinal worms at any one time.
Hope to Haiti has provided over 5000 home water
filtration systems to combat this issue.
Will you join us in this
fight to protect the most
vulnerable children in Haiti?
Make a donation today.
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