| What is it? |
Worms infect more than one-quarter of school-age children throughout the developing world.
Infections adversely affect children’s access to education, health and cognitive development.
Treatment is safe and cheap, at pennies per dose, and is a “best buy” in terms of education
interventions. A randomized evaluation in Kenya showed that treating children for worms
increases the amount of time they spend at school at a cost of about US$ 3.50 per additional
school year.The Young Global Leader (YGL) Education Working Group chose to focus on
deworming because it is proven to be one of the most cost-effective ways to increase access
to basic education but is still a relatively neglected issue.
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How does it work? |
Deworm the World works with YGLs in all different sectors to leverage their unique talents to
increase deworming: those working in schools are encouraged to incorporate deworming into
their existing programmes, those with access to leaders in policy circles are asked to bring
forward the issue of deworming, and those with experience fund-raising and conducting media
campaigns are asked to direct part of their energy to this task. In order to support these
efforts, Deworm the World is developing “kits” that can be used by YGLs engaged in specific
tasks. Deworm the World is also establishing partnerships with leaders in the deworming field
to develop sustainable models for nation-wide implementation.
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What has been achieved so far? |
Elizabeth Beasley, Head of J-PAL Europe, is coordinating this initiative. Partnerships have been established with the Partnership for Child Development, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, the WHO, the World Bank, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, and Save the Children. Development of a
website and the kits is under way, and several documents to be used in the kits have been
produced.The protocol that will govern the implementation of deworming – training and the
distribution of drugs – in YGL organizations is being finalized.
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| Next steps? |
Deworm the World will pilot in one or two YGL-affiliated NGOs before moving forward with
a larger sweep. Deworm the World is also collaborating in a proposal that will develop a model
for national implementation, which will provide a platform for advocacy.A priority is raising
start-up funds for implementation.
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Unique value
of the YGL contribution: |
The YGLs can bring their diverse skills to bear on this issue to make a lasting difference.
Through their contacts in government, the media, donor groups, industry and NGOs, or
through their own talents in advocacy and awareness,YGLs offer a very unique chance to
attack this problem from all sides, leveraging the impact that can be made in any one sector
alone.
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How can you help make it happen? |
Each YGL has something unique to contribute: if you work in schools, consider whether
deworming would be appropriate for your schools, and Deworm the World will try to make it
happen. If you have access to donors, please consider whether you can encourage them to
donate to Deworm the World. If you have access to policy contacts, leverage them to help
bring this issue to the table. If you are connected with the media, please help us raise
awareness regarding deworming.
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| Task Force Champions |
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Matthew Anderson, Group Director, Communications and Brand Marketing, British Sky
Broadcasting Group, United Kingdom
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Erik Charas, Director, Endowment and Investments, Foundation for Community
Development (FDC), Mozambique
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Esther Duflo, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
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Kristin Forbes, Professor of Economics, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, USA
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M. James Kondo, President and Vice-Chairman, Health Policy Institute, Japan
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Johann Koss, President and Chief Executive Officer, Right To Play International, Canada
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Michael Kremer, Gates Professor of Developing Societies, Harvard University, USA
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Alejandro Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer, Cinepolis, Mexico
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Muna Abu Sulayman, Executive Manager, Kingdom Foundation, Saudi Arabia
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| Whom to contact? |
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