Trek II

On my second trek my colleagues and I ventured out to various spots in the country to assess a vitamin A/de-worming campaign that is being implemented this month. One colleague and I stayed in Farafenni, which is on the north bank in the middle of the country. From there we met with some other counterparts in the area and trekked to different villages to encourage, consult, and gather data on the progress of the campaign.

FYI: Children less than 5 years of age have a regular schedule of vitamin A supplementation, but de-worming, which is regularly completed in most other 3rd world countries, has not taken place in the Gambia on a widespread basis, until now. Children can easily acquire worms by walking barefoot in a contaminated area. The worm will attach to the bottom of the foot and burrow up until it finds the intestines and then will set up shop and steal nutrients from the infected host. Certain species of worms can multiply and severely deplete a very needy young child of the dire nutrients they need to grow and survive. With the de-worming pills the child will pass out the worms in the feces, which is a very effective visual for the mother that the pills are working and their child will show marked health improvement.

Most sites were doing well, meaning their coverage of children being supplemented was on par with how many child they should have completed. Anytime an area was lacking they would have to come up with solutions to gather and supplement all the recorded children in the area.