Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

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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.
NEWSLETTER 2/2006 29 SIGHT AND LIFE Eye care mission to the Dominican Republic, March 2006 Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, MD, MSPH, MBA, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA Introduction During our previous trip to the Dominican Republic (DR), we demonstrated that VAD is a public health problem in this country. This was reported in SIGHT AND LIFE Newsletter 2/2005 (pp. 35–36) with more details given in the 3/2005 issue (pp. 21–23). In March 2006, Creighton University realized a similar mission with the same partners. In addition to the screening of children and the administration of vitamin A capsules, adults were examined for glaucoma. Glaucoma is also the commonest cause of blindness in African-American and Hispanic populations. The primary health care workers (Cooperadores) received a halfday review and training session on the clinical signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, its effects on childhood morbidity and mortality and preventative strategies. Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki emphasized the benefits of breast-feeding and encouraged the consumption of foods rich in vitamin A, such as green leafy vegetables, carrots, mangoes, papaya, etc. The Cooperadores also received lectures on the importance of adults having their eyes screened for glaucoma. All the Cooperadores received eye exams and screening. Two new cases of glaucoma were identified amongst the group. Other trip activities included screening children for the eye signs of vitamin A deficiency, distributing vitamin A capsules, and providing screening and ocular examination and treatment for adults, specifically for glaucoma. In addition, a lecture to the Ophthalmology Society on the importance of screening for glaucoma was delivered by Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki. Results Approximately 200 children, ages 3 months to 10 years, were screened and received vitamin A. A total of 178 adults received visual acuity, visual field (using the FDT Visual Field Analyzer), slit lamp, tonometry and fundus exams. Ninety-four patients had complete ophthalmologic exams. Thirty new cases and 44 existing cases of glaucoma were diagnosed, and six glaucoma surgeries were performed. Follow-up referrals were sent to Dr. Sebastian Guzman and to the ILAC clinic in Santiago.
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