DUBAI // A Dubai philanthropic organisation is spending more than Dh7 million to help almost one million schoolchildren in Vietnam keep healthy enough to attend classes.
The three-year programme by Dubai Cares will benefit 905,000 youngsters in 2,600 Vietnamese schools. The project will aim to tackle the spread of neglected tropical diseases such as intestinal worms, which has been described as one of the leading forms of absenteeism from schools.
Tariq Al Gurg, the chief executive of Dubai Cares, said the problem posed “serious challenges to the physical and educational development of many children and their communities worldwide, including those in Vietnam”.
“These, and other parasitic diseases contribute to a high level of infant, child and maternal malnutrition, which in turn impacts children’s learning capabilities,” he said.
“Through this programme, we will be supporting an integrated and holistic initiative that sees all members of the community work together to ensure success against this devastating issue.”
The initiative is being implemented with the help of Thrive Networks. The organisations will work on a countrywide programme that will train teachers to give deworming medicine to almost one million children.
The teachers will be among 10,000 people to receive additional training on how to improve personal hygiene, safe handling of food, and how to eliminate unsafe soil fertilisation practices. The goal is to ensure the training trickles down to the rest of the community to keep reinfestation rates low.
“The benefit of the deworming medicine cannot be fully realised if the child is quickly re-infected because of unsanitary, unhygienic conditions at home or in the broader community,” said Minh Chau Nguyen, the Vietnam country director for Thrive Networks.
“We are excited to launch a first of its kind integrated approach to deworming that includes improving access to sanitation and raising awareness of hygienic practices.”
Intestinal worms are known as soil-transmitted helminths, or STH. According to the World Health Organisation, STH are “among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities”.
The infections are transmitted by eggs present in human faeces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor.
The WHO estimates that there are 880 million children around the world who are in need of treatment for this condition. Unicef says the problem is “endemic” in Vietnam.
Symptoms include abdominal discomfort and general weakness. Hookworms can cause blood loss to the point of anaemia.
“Many children in developing countries face health issues such as intestinal worms, making them too sick or too tired to concentrate in school which consequently prevents them from continuing their education, leading to high drop-out rates,” said Mr Al Gurg.
“Many others do not even enrol in schools due to such health issues. Therefore, deworming not only helps retain children in schools, but also enables those who are infected to get well and go to school.”
Mr Al Gurg said that because of its global reach, Dubai Cares utilises local providers such as Thrive Networks to implement its aid programmes on the ground.
In the past seven years, the organisation has reached 10 million children in 35 developing countries.
Its latest project in Vietnam is in line with a goal by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to empower children around the world to contribute to society.
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