Nghe An promotes the prevention and control of parasitic diseases

Accordingly, Nghe An is located in the tropical zone, the climate conditions, living habits of the people as well as the current environmental sanitation are very favorable for the development and spread of parasitic diseases.

Those at high risk of infection are preschool children, students and women of childbearing age. Some occupations that are in direct contact with soil have higher infection rates such as farming, growing vegetables, crops...

Parasites are a source of disease and some of them can be fatal to their hosts. Photo: Internet

According to the investigation results of the Central Institute of Malaria - Parasitology - Entomology in 2020 - 2021 in some districts in Nghe An province, the rate of intestinal helminth infection is 15-20%.

According to the report on the results of symptomatic patients visiting the Center for Disease Control of Nghe An province (period 2018 - 2022), the rate of detecting infected patientsflukeLarge liver is 18.33%, strongyloidiasis is 13%, roundworm disease is 37%.

Parasitic diseases often have a silent and prolonged course, so they receive little attention. Meanwhile, the incidence of some types of parasites in some specific communities is high, such as in children, women of reproductive age, disadvantaged populations, and ethnic minorities.

Economic conditions, eating and drinking hygiene practices, personal hygiene and environmental hygiene in schools and rural areas are still difficult, increasing the risk of infection and limiting the effectiveness of prevention.

In order to contribute to reducing the burden of common parasitic diseases in Nghe An and improving public health, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has issued Plan No. 241/KH-UBND.

Specifically, the People's Committee of Nghe An province clearly assigned responsibilities to departments, branches and localities to assess the prevalence of parasitic diseases such as soil-transmitted helminthiasis, intestinal helminthiasis, food-borne liver flukes, parasitic diseases transmitted from animals to humans... and to develop an epidemiological map of diseases and parasitic diseases.

From there, propose intervention measures and develop appropriate parasite prevention and control plans for each group of diseases and each epidemic area; determine the need for drugs, supplies, funding, and interventions for epidemic areas; develop plans to prevent and control parasitic diseases according to the epidemic area of ​​each parasitic disease.

In 2023, localities will carry out epidemiological zoning assessments of parasitic diseases including: Dien Chau, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau, Vinh city, Nam Dan, Tan Ky, Tuong Duong. In 2024, assessments will be conducted in the following localities: Nghi Loc, Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai town, Quy Hop, Do Luong, Anh Son, Ky Son. In 2025, assessments will be conducted in the following localities: Yen Thanh, Thai Hoa town, Cua Lo town, Que Phong, Hung Nguyen, Thanh Chuong and Con Cuong.

Nghe An province has selected 9 diseases that need to be prioritized for assessment in the period 2023-2025 as follows: Soil-transmitted helminths (roundworms; whipworms; hookworms; Other intestinal helminths (pinworms); Food-borne trematodes (fascioliasis); Parasitic diseases transmitted from animals to humans (Cat and dog roundworm larvae).

Along with the assessment, Nghe An province also pointed out solutions to intervene in the prevention and control of parasitic diseases, including: Organizing treatment of cases; promoting communication work; solutions for people; solutions in schools; coordination between departments, branches and sectors in implementing prevention and control./.