Blog - Pastors' Conferences

Diocese of Soroti Receives 2 Million Doses of Deworming Meds for Local Distribution

Posted By Helen Hofman on 7.20.11 @ 8:16AM | Relief , Agathos Aid And Relief, Community Health Evangelism, De-worming Medicine, Orphan Care, Pastors' Conferences, Vitamin A, Soroti; Uganda, World Concern

The Diocese of Soroti, Uganda, is the newest partner for Pilgrim's distribution of deworming medication. Pilgrim's Aid & Relief Program, supplied with medications through the Agathos Foundation, delivered 2 million doses of mebendezole, a deworming medicine, to the offices of the Diocese of Soroti in early July. World Concern, a non-profit humanitarian organization providing community development and disaster responses, donates these medicines to the Agathos Foundation and Pilgrim for distribution. Bishop George Erwau of the Diocese of Soroti received the meds on behalf of the Church of Uganda (Anglican) from Rev. Dorsey McConnell, Pilgrim Board President, at the offices of the Diocese. Rev. MCConnell was accompanied by James Ochan, Pilgrim Operations Manager, and Patrick Ongodia, Pilgrim Country Coordinator. The Church of Uganda (CoU) will distribute these doses to outlying villages and church clinics in the Teso region, as well as to local hospitals and other clinics.

Dr. Oonyhu Taabon, a retired physician who volunteers with the Diocese, cited Matt 11:5, as he talked about the church's work among the Teso people. "This is the place of the church-the sick are healed, and the gospel is preached this way." He will be assisting with distributions of these much-needed meds.

Deworming is an important public health intervention with immediate benefits for children in poverty. One dose of mebendazole kills all kinds of intestinal worms for 6 months, allowing children the full nutritional benefit from their food. Intestinal worms can steal up to a quarter of the food a child eats, and further weaken the immune system. When mebendazole is administered with vitamin A, the combination boosts immunity for vulnerable children, and can mean survival for many. As part of a deworming and micronutrient consortium of humanitarian and aid groups, Pilgrim receives and distributes millions of donated doses of both these meds in sub-Saharan Africa through partnerships with local organizations.