Financial costs of deworming children in all primary schools in Cambodia.
In 2002, Cambodia's Ministry of Health launched a deworming programme to deliver an anthelmintic drug (mebendazole 500 mg) and health education to 75% of its school children twice a year. Cambodia's school population is approximately 2.8 million. The deworming programme was organized into two phases: the first phase (December 2002-March 2003) targeted more than one million school children from 11 provinces; and the second phase (July 2003-January 2004) targeted the entire school population. The cost to treat each child was 12 cents (0.11 USD) during the first phase, 6 cents during the second phase, and 3 cents for re-treatment in areas where the campaign was conducted for the second time. The Cambodian experience demonstrates that, with political commitment, high coverage for deworming is achievable even in a country with minimal resources. Cambodia's deworming programme represents a successful model for other developing countries.
National Malaria Center, Ministry of Health of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Muth
M
Sinuon
Reiko
R
Tsuyuoka
Doung
D
Socheat
Antonio
A
Montresor
Kevin
K
Palmer
D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002160:Cambodia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012574:Schools
D000871:Anthelmintics; D008463:Mebendazole