The Asian Center of International Parasite Control (ACIPAC): five years of achievement. IV. Activities in partner countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam): small scale pilot project (SSPP) and other impacts.

Small-scale pilot projects were carried out in each of CLMV countries by ex-trainees of the ACIPAC International Training Course, based on the proposal that was made during the first training course in 2001. This project was planned in order to provide these participants with the capacity to acquire further experience and management skills for the planning and implementation of parasite control activities. After the ex-trainees of the four countries conducted their baseline surveys, the projects then started to support two or three schools each, using a maximum of US$ 10,000 per year. The health sector provided support to the schools, such as de-worming and health check-ups. Health education was strengthened as an important activity in this approach. The provision of clean water and latrines was also considered in each country. It was found that there was a decrease in the prevalence of soil-transmitted diseases, a gain of the knowledge about how to prevent parasitic infections, and behavior change concerning personal hygiene among the targeted children. Cambodia Two schools in Rattanakmodul District, Battambang Province, which is located in the northwest of Cambodia, were selected as model schools (Fig 1). In 2002, selective treatment, that is, treatment only after a positive stool examination, was undertaken twice a year. After 2003, ‘blanket’ treatment was done twice a year. In November, all schoolchildren were examined for soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infection using microscopic stool examinations. Health education was provided as a short lecture, about parasite control and personal hygiene in the morning, using a poster. Radio programs in model schools were broadcast weekly to pass on health messages to the pupils. Moreover, the child-to-child approach was adopted as extra curricular activities for effective health education, such as making a model child. After the measures described above, as Table 1 demonstrates, there was a decrease in the prevalence of soiltransmitted helminthes, from 45.3 % in 2002 to 14.6% in 2003. The low positive rate was sustained through to 2004 (14.0%).