Experts despatched to Volta, Eastern Regions on deworming problems

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - A seven-member team of the Independent Centre for Pharmacovigilance of the University of Ghana Medical School, Legon, on Tuesday left Accra to investigate alleged reports of adverse reactions emanating from the national de-worming exercise. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview after an emergency partners' meeting in Accra, Dr Alex Dodoo, Director of the Pharmacovigilance Centre, said he would lead a the team to visit all health facilities in the Volta and Eastern Regions where reports of the reaction from the drug were reported on Monday. They are expected to be back by Thursday.

The national de-worming exercise, the first to be organized by the authorities, began on Monday, and is expected to end on Friday. A total of 4.5 million children from kindergarten to Junior Secondary School (JSS) in 28,043 schools are expected to receive a tablet of Mebendazole (500mg) each for the treatment of soil-transmitted worms only.

The exercise was simultaneously carried out throughout the country but reports from the two regions indicated that some children in certain schools developed skin rashes and abdominal cramps after taking a tablet of the de-wormer and were rushed to the hospitals.

The drug, imported by UNICEF, was manufactured by Remedica Limited in Cyprus in August 2005 and would expire in August 2010. Dr. Dodoo said the meeting was to develop strategies to ascertain the truth of the matter, and explained that the de-worming exercise was a good idea but the rumours were the concern of the parents and should be treated with serious attention.

Officials of the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service and UNICEF attended the meeting. He said there was a side effect to everything, even water, and that given the side effects of the Mebendazole 500mg such as stomach crumps, vomiting, headaches, nausea and dizziness adding "such reaction do not lead to death".

Dr Dodoo dismissed suggestions that the time the drug was taken could have been a factor to the alleged reactions and explained "The World Health Organisation document recommends that a tablet of Mebendazole could be taken in between meals and continuously for a period of one month in mass or severe situations so the timing should not be a factor".

The national de-worming exercise is jointly organized by Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with Ghana Education Service (GES) and UNICEF.

Headteachers, school health teachers and health personnel have been trained to administer the de-worming medicine, which is estimated at a total cost of 80,000 dollars.

The idea of the exercise is to promote good nutrition among the school-aged children and address the link between worm infestation, sanitation and hygiene in schools.

Ms Eunice Sackey, School Health Promotion Officer of the Ghana Health Service, said the exercise was piloted in August last year in four selected schools from Ga East and Tema. Stool samples were taken and analysed and the same brand of Mebendazole 500mg was administered. Meanwhile, a visit by the Ghana News Agency to some schools in Accra revealed that reactions felt as a result of the intake of the drug by the pupils were not serious. visited took part.

Some heads of the schools said some health personnel who were asked for assistance in the administration of the drug did not turn up. The teachers of Bishop Girls Basic School said the drugs were not enough to go round so pupils at the Junior Secondary School did not have their doses.

They said the pupils did not experience any serious reactions. All the pupils were in good health and were present in class. 13 Feb. 07

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