Deworming Treatment
Location: Brazil and Peru
In both Peru and Brazil, poor sanitation infrastructure, lack of access to clean water, and limited knowledge of preventive health and hygiene practices have contributed to endemic parasitic infection. To combat this problem INMED has focused on deworming as one of the core elements of our Healthy Children, Healthy Futures program. We have been participating in deworming campaigns around the world for nearly 20 years, making this is our longest-running health project.
Children are most vulnerable to the effects of parasites, which compromise their physical and cognitive development at the most crucial time in their lives. They are particularly susceptible to parasitic infections which result from contact with contaminated soil or water. Intestinal parasites sap important nutrients, energy and appetite, and ultimately stunts infected children’s growth and learning potential.
INMED’s Brazil field staff treat parasitic infections in children with mebendazole, a broad-spectrum deworming medicine donated by Johnson & Johnson. To date, we have treated more than 3 million children for parasitic infection.
To counteract the devastating effects of parasitic infection in Peru, INMED and its program partners, the Peru Ministry of Health, United States Agency for International Development and Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag organized deworming campaigns in association with the Healthy Babies program, which is working to prevent maternal and infant mortality and strengthen the regional maternal and child health care system in Peru.
Through the campaigns, which are held semiannually, more than 300,000 women of reproductive age, children, and other household members have been treated for parasitic infection.
