Children of Vietnam

Keeping Children Healthy and Growing- Parasite Reduction Program

Intestinal worms thrive where poverty, malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, and minimal health care and awareness exist. Parasite infections have been shown to have a negative impact on cognitive tasks and long-term health.

• Over 10 million children in Viet Nam are estimated to be infected with intestinal parasites. (WHO)
• For ore-school children, worm infestation even at low-levels, make unnecessary demands on a child’s resources and well-being and inevitably proper growth falters and slows. (WHO)
• School-aged children have the highest infestation rate and are also in their peak growing years. The more school-aged children are sick, absenteeism increases, and learning decreases. Additionally, persistent infestation makes children at risk when adults for cancer of the bladder, liver fibrosis, and kidney failure. (WHO)
• Parasite control programs around the world have shown that the difference in weight gain between treated and untreated children is almost 2.5 lbs per year. (WHO)

Children will become re-infected, but repeated treatment ensures that they have fewer worms, for shorter periods. This in turn helps to give each child the best chance of growing and learning to his or her potential.

Who We Serve

COV’s Parasite Reduction Program serves thousands of children, three to eighteen years of age, in the rural regions of central Vietnam.

What We Do

COV works in partnership with local schools and health departments to deliver and supervise drug administration to children in school and those not in school. (Children not in school may be too young or kept home due to inability to pay school expenses or to help with chores.) The twice-yearly treatment consists of 500 mg Mebendazole tablets, typically in March and September. These tablets are produced in Vietnam, are without side effect, and are cost effective. Treatment will protect children from Roundworm, Pinworm, Hookworm, and Flatworm infestation. Our experience has shown that parasite infestation can be reduced from 36.95% to 1.2%. In addition, the rate of school absenteeism lasting 3-4 days due to infection complications (anemia, malnutrition, dermatitis, pneumonia) can decrease from 1.9%, to .95%.

Due to low the cost of the tablets and utilization of the schools to reach the children, the cost of controlling worm infestation is very low yet has a very positive and long-term impact. One hundred dollars will provide treatment for over 700 children.

Here is how the costs breakdown:

12 cents for two 500mg Mebendazole dosages per child (1 in fall and 1 in spring)
03 cents For implementation*
15 cents total cost per child for 1 year

*Implementation includes the following:
-Cost to transport medicine to rural commune health clinics
-Cost for health clinic to screen & do health check of child
-Cost of bottled drinking water for children to take tablet
-Per diem and gas allowance for health clinic staff
-Office supplies
-COV staff coordination and oversight (slightly less 1 cent per child, .0087)

COV coordinates with both the school systems and the health clinics to implement this program. We reach both school children and those not in school.

$15 will provide 1 year of treatment for 100 children
$52 will provide 1 year of treatment for 350 children
$75 will provide 1 year of treatment for 500 children
$105 will provide 1 year of treatment for 700 children

Providing the gift of a future- one surgery at a time- Mending Hearts Project

For many Vietnamese children, health care is a luxury their families cannot afford. Basic needs such as shelter and food simply take precedence. When medical needs are complex as in the case of heart complications, these children face dire prospects. Surgery is truly a gift of life.

• According to Vietnamese Health Ministry estimates, the number of children waiting for heart operations stands at 20,000, with one out of every 100 children born having congenital heart conditions—nearly 3,000 children every year. Surgery costs typically range between $700 and $3,000.
• Many parents with afflicted children cannot afford these life-saving surgeries. Three-quarters of the population live in rural areas where the per capita income is less then $200, way below the national average of $700. Without intervention, many of these children will die before reaching adulthood.

Who We Serve

Children of Vietnam (COV) currently has a waiting list of children with life threatening heart conditions. There are many more children in Danang and its eight surrounding provinces who are in need of help.

The amount of assistance provided to each family is determined by:

• Severity of health situation
• Severity of economic situation of the family
• Surgery and medicine costs
• Travel, lodging and food costs

What We Do

• COV staff interviews each family for need, assists in arranging medical exams and surgery, coordinates with medical personnel throughout the process, and assists in bringing the child for checkups if necessary. Surgeries take place at Danang General Hospital, Center Hospital of Hue, or the Heart Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, organizations with which COV has excellent relationships. Medical fees are paid directly to the health providers.