Has anybody got experience with linking a deworming campaign to ODF
declaration?
To add to the post- ODF discussion, as well as the link between WASH and Health, I am wondering if somebody has experience in linking a deworming campaign to an ODF declaration. In principle, ODF and proper hygiene ensures that contamination is no longer possible, but if people already have worms, they will not get better, and still be a possible source of contamination. This could be one of the reasons that various studies trying to link ODF with diminished stunting have not been very convincing.
As deworming is regarded as one of the most cost-effective interventions, it would make sense to deworm (for free?) a community as a first follow-up of an ODF declaration. Obviously, this needs to be well communicated and presented as a logical follow-up on being ODF and needs to be coordinated with the health departments.
Any thoughts or publications?
Thanks,
Arjen Naafs
Regional Technical Advisor
WaterAid South Asia
1 Answer
Dear Arjen,
Thank you, you made a very good point.
Deworming campaigns make very good sense with ODF communities. While deworming an entire community could be ambitious, in the other hand deworming all the school children and children below 5 years old can be achievable.
This can be achieved integrating CLTS with health campaigns by Health department with support of WHO and UNICEF (deworming campaigns in schools, polio campaigns are frequently associated with deworming as well, as Polio viruses are transmitted mainly by faecal–oral route). (Routine immunization and public health campaigns)
Through school deworming activities and public health campaigns then it can be possible to reach out communities and families and disseminating messages on the importance of the practice and encouraging at the same time parents and adults to do the same.
So definitely this is an approach worth to implement in partnership.
Thanks,
Debora
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