OBI president, Bill Horan, left, and First Lady of Honduras, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, right, officially launched a nationwide anti-parasite campaign targeting school-aged children.

HONDURAS – Last week, a celebration was taking place in Honduras – and a small pill was the reason behind it all.

Surrounded by an array of media, government, medical, education and church leaders, Operation Blessing President Bill Horan and the first lady of Honduras, Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, officially launched a nationwide anti-parasite campaign targeting school-age children.

More than 100 third and fourth grade students gathered at Tegucigalpa’s John F. Kennedy School to receive their first dose, which will eradicate the parasites for up to six months.

Starting next week, the program will begin distributing medicine to  remote villages in the mountains and along the coast.

"Today marks the beginning of a new life for countless Honduran children," said Horan, who was on the ground in Honduras helping administer the pills, "and the end of life for millions of intestinal parasites."

For those battling intestinal parasites, the worms not only cause physical pain and bleeding, but also consume 25 percent of a person's food intake, causing malnutrition and other severe, chronic health problems.

Starting next week, the program will begin distributing medicine to remote villages in the mountains and along the coast.

"Children infested with worms are always hungry, often sick, miss lots of school and suffer in terrible ways ranging from non-stop belly aches to stunted growth, chronic disease and muddled minds. With a pill costing less than a nickel and some very basic hygiene training – we can change all that," Horan added.

This anti-parasite campaign is part of OBI’s expanded program across the globe which is treating more than 5 million children every six months in countries such as Peru, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Last year, OBI celebrated its largest distribution ever, handing out 2 million pills in one day to 2 million residents in Peru. Other anti-parasite programs remain ongoing in China, Cambodia and Latin America.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Be a part of OBI's ongoing medical relief efforts by making an online contribution to help those suffering from extreme poverty and sickness. For just a nickel a dose, OBI can provide hygiene training and treat parasites in children.

 

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