NOVEMBER AICU SOLIDARITY 2005 - SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN VIETNAM The November AICU solidarity 2005 ended with an extraordinary participation. We received 138,763 text messages of solidarity. Thanks to all who joined the initiative. In September 1996 Carlo Urbani was selected by Msf Switzerland for a one year contract in Cambodia as a project leader of an intestinal schistosomiasis control programme, a parasitic infestation present in 74 countries on three continents, which mostly affects children. The consequences, often made serious by repeated infestations over the years, are almost always fatal. Carlo described the disease with these moving words. The first edition of the November AICU Solidarity set itself the goal of continuing the work started by Carlo in the Vietnamese regions of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, areas with high risk mortality due to the rivers which are infested with this parasite. Mass deparasiting of school-age children in two provinces of Vietnam (school year 2006-2007) Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by intestinal parasites, and in particular from schistosomiasis. A series of studies conducted recently by the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that the Vietnamese population is severely infected by intestinal parasites. This high transmission of intestinal infections is due to the warm humid climate, lack of sanitation/health facilities and use of human faecal material as a fertiliser in agriculture. The intestinal infections are widespread throughout the country and cause nutritional deficiency, growth retardation and death. The action recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) is supported by AICU with the November Solidarity project, the periodic deparasiting and health education of all school-age children. Mass Deparasiting With the funds provided by AICU, all school-age children (and their teachers) of two northern provinces of Vietnam (Bac Giang and Bac Ninh) will be deparasited twice in the school year 2006-2007 and they will receive health education on how to prevent the infection. Dosage: one tablet of Mebendazole 500 mg per child/ twice a year. Production and costs: the Mebendazole drug is produced in Vietnam with a cost of about 1.3 Euros for a box of 100 tablets. The quality of the drug is periodically checked by WHO. Number of children treated: 120,000 – 140,000 per province Expected results Numerosi studi scientifici dimostrano che il deparassitaggio periodico dei bambini Numerous scientific studies show that periodic children deparasiting: mproves their nutritional status increases their attendance at school increases their academic achievement will make them more resistant to other infections. In addition, the program funded by AICU will also provide a practical example of how to conduct the periodic deparasiting at low-cost in a school environment, which can be replicated in other parts of the country by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. The provinces identified for treatment are Bac Giang and Bac Ninh.   The November Aicu Solidarity is an initiative made possible thanks to: Banca Popolare di Ancona Cooperlat TreValli Merloni TermoSanitari Fileni Radio Arancia Network.