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Worms outbreak stifles learning in Nyanza
Published on 02/01/2012
By Nicholas Anyuor
Schools start re-opening on Tuesday, but things are not rosy for school-going children living near Lake Victoria ? because most of them are infested with worms, a research has established.
Due to the diseases brought about by worms, experts note that a sizeable number of these poor minors will be absent from class for several years. Furthermore, learning for majority of those who are strong enough to hang on will be slowed down to a bare minimum.
Through a study conducted by scientists from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) and America?s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), worm infections in this region has substantially reduced academic performance, especially in the primary school level.
The experts say worms that cause bilharzia and those that are responsible for soil-transmitted infections (mainly helminthiases) are common in the Lake Victoria Basin and are associated with contact with the lake water and contaminated environments.
"In addition to severe diseases, these worms can cause degree of morbidity to poor health outcomes in infected persons, particularly children," said Pauline Mwinzi, a principal researcher at Kemri and who led the survey.
More...
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/heal...ory=Worms outbreak stifles learning in Nyanza
Published on 02/01/2012
By Nicholas Anyuor
Schools start re-opening on Tuesday, but things are not rosy for school-going children living near Lake Victoria ? because most of them are infested with worms, a research has established.
Due to the diseases brought about by worms, experts note that a sizeable number of these poor minors will be absent from class for several years. Furthermore, learning for majority of those who are strong enough to hang on will be slowed down to a bare minimum.
Through a study conducted by scientists from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) and America?s Centre for Disease Control (CDC), worm infections in this region has substantially reduced academic performance, especially in the primary school level.
The experts say worms that cause bilharzia and those that are responsible for soil-transmitted infections (mainly helminthiases) are common in the Lake Victoria Basin and are associated with contact with the lake water and contaminated environments.
"In addition to severe diseases, these worms can cause degree of morbidity to poor health outcomes in infected persons, particularly children," said Pauline Mwinzi, a principal researcher at Kemri and who led the survey.
More...
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/heal...ory=Worms outbreak stifles learning in Nyanza