Escuelas saludables: reduciendo las enfermedades de diarrea y dengue en las escuelas rurales de Anapoima y La Mesa, Cundinamarca

Diarrheal diseases and dengue fever are major global health problems resulting in millions of deaths every year. Billions of people live in risk areas. In Latin America both diseases are prevalent and infection rates are high. Where provision of clean water is inadequate, water storage is crucial. Fecal contamination of stored water is a common source of diarrheal illness. Stored water is also a potential breeding site for dengue vector mosquitoes. Little is known of the role of stored water for the dual risk of diarrhea and dengue. In this project sets of diarrhea and dengue interventions were evaluated in rural primary schools in Colombia to reduce absence due to diarrheal disease among pupils and dengue risk factors. Randomized controlled trials were carried out using integrated water management and dengue vector control interventions in schools to assess disease outcome, water quality, mosquito vector density, and potential changes in people's knowledge, attitudes and practices. The objective of the study was to investigate whether specific interventions could reduce diarrheal disease in school children and reduce entomological risk factors. This initiative aimed to develop a scientific and educational collaborative platform between the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and the Universidad El Bosque(UED) in Colombia.

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