Dr. Vicente Belizario of University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health, discusses parasites and how they affect people in poor countries last 26 January at ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

22 February 2012 -- Water and health experts attended a forum entitled, “Neglected Tropical Diseases: Control, Water and Sanitation Interventions” at ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines last 26 January 2012.
 
Dr. Vicente Belizario, Jr., Deputy Director of the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), discussed worms and other parasites, and how these are considered as diseases of poverty among Asian countries.
 
"Worms are a proxy for poverty. They are endemic in over 100 of the poorest countries including those in Asia. The combination of water and sanitation, hygiene, education, and deworming is the best way to address this problem,” said Dr. Belizario.
 
UP-NIH is a civil society organization that aims to be the Philippines’ recognized authority on health research and development and the key source of critical health information for national development in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
 
The forum is the 5th under the Distinguished Water Leaders Series jointly organized by Water and Health Communities of Practice of ADB. The series was launched in June 2010 to feature speeches and lectures by eminent persons in the global water sector exploring innovative solutions for water management in the Asia-Pacific region.