Madagascar - Improving children's health in Madagascar

91725 Improving Children's Health in Madagascar July 1, 2002 In Madagascar, children across the country have been afflicted by a remarkably high rate of infection by various intestinal worms, which can cause anemia. A community-based response, supported by the World Bank,  has brought action on several fronts, ranging from nutritional supplements to grants for school water tanks. In almost four years, SEECALINE a community nutrition program in Madagascar has treated 1.2 million students, preschoolers and non-enrolled school-aged children for intestinal parasites.  The program has provided iron supplements to 800,000 students, funded 71 micro-projects, and trained 20,000 teachers.  Under the same program, parents, children, and teachers working with local non-governmental organizations can apply for grants for school water tanks and latrines to decrease the chances of parasite re-infections.  Teachers are also trained to provide education in good nutrition and hygiene to children during regular classes, which discourages re-infection and encourages children to include iron in their regular diet. The program continues to tackle iodine deficiency - another prevalent, but easily remedied problem which causes mental retardation and poor growth in all children, and can cause younger children to become deaf.  Iodine deficiency affects all children's capacity to learn. In a primary school in the village of Soamierana, children were asked to bring in table salt from their houses to be tested in school using a simple test kit provided by UNICEF.  The salt proved to be plain salt without any iodine.  With new-found self- confidence, the children informed their parents that they should no longer buy salt from the local merchant.  Pressure from parents and the community persuaded the merchant to restock his shop with iodized salt.   Related Links:  Madagascar  Health, Nutrition & Population  UNICEF   Updated: July 2002