Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

SIGHT AND LIFE 28
NEWSLETTER 2/2006
ute the parasitic medicines (along
with an education program on
basic hygiene and sanitation) and
how to educate the parents about
the daily supplements for their
children. The periodic, organized
distribution of mebendazole
supplements has worked successfully
in our past experience
and we are confident about the
progress of this project. During
the first year it is planned to
reach 30,000 children and in the
second and third year others not
yet reached will be included.
A grant to run the project and the
micronutrients are being donated
by SIGHT AND LIFE. The tableting
is being contributed by Anabolic
Labs with excipient contributions
from Domino Foods and Mutual
Foods. The mebendazole is being
purchased from (and partially donated
by) MedPharm. PAHO (Pan
American Health Organization) is
supplying the Kato Katz test kits
for the baseline study. Support
on the baseline study is being
provided by George Washington
University and the Ministry of
Health (MOH) in Honduras.
The distribution of the products
follows strict guidelines. The
in-country partners of the mebendazole
part of the campaign
receive WHO survey materials
and guidelines for administering
safe and appropriate doses of
mebendazole to children. Only
trained healthcare workers or
volunteers administer the doses
and maintain accurate record
sheets about children receiving
supplements and mebendazole.
They ascertain the child’s age
– through discussion with caregiver,
or by observing the ambulatory
ability of the child. The
caregivers are instructed to give
the children one micronutrient
vitamin/mineral chewable tablet
each day. Based on the records of
individual children an evaluation
and follow up of the campaign is
possible.
Partners
Vitamin Angel Alliance is the
lead agency for the program.
Our mission is to provide basic
nutrition to people in need. Our
vision is far reaching. We believe
that every person has a right to
basic nutrition; that malnutrition
linked diseases are preventable
and that education in addition to
supplementation is essential for
long-term health. A more detailed
scope of the mission of VAA was
given in SIGHT AND LIFE Newsletter
2/2005 (pp. 20–21).
Cristo Salva is implementing
the program in Honduras. It is
a non-profit NGO consisting
of lay people, doctors, nurses,
teachers, and missionaries. For
15 years it has been serving the
people of Honduras, focused
primarily in the State of Santa
Barbara. The vision of Cristo
Salva is to provide basic needs in
the form of vitamins, clean water,
hygienic education, agricultural
education, nutritional education
and support, medical and dental
clinics, pre-natal education, eye
glasses, clothing, and shoes.
Goals, outcomes and
reports
The records kept, using WHO
survey materials, will give information
on:
• Number of community meetings
held
• Number of micronutrient supplements
distributed
• Number of worm tablets distributed
• Number and ages of children
reached
It is expected that the benefits
gained will be reduced blindness,
morbidity, mortality and clinic
visits as well as improved general
health. Some of the benefits may
be difficult to quantify. However,
there is no doubt that these reductions
in health problems
will enable health workers and
facilities to redirect a substantial
portion of their resources to other
public health and socio-economic
concerns.
The Honduran Micronutrient
Campaign will be monitored and
evaluated by VAA with full participation
by Cristo Salva and other
in-country partner organizations.
The primary emphasis will be on
the coverage of the program, with
results largely based on the supplements
and medication reaching
the intended beneficiaries.