RITM researchers representing the Philippines in the Magic Glasses Research Programme for the Global Control of Intestinal Worms imparted the results of their main trial in a meeting held last August 28, 2019 at the Acacia Hotel, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Magic Glasses is an interactive health education intervention first done on Chinese schoolchildren on the prevention of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection. The intervention includes an informational video and brochure accompanied by classroom discussions and drawing and essay competitions. The intervention was later adapted to mirror the Filipino cultural landscape in order to evaluate Magic Glasses’ translatability across Asia.
The meeting was opened with a presentation of the Magic Glasses Programme’s history by the Australian Principal Chief Investigators Prof. Darren Gray of the Australian National University and Prof. Don McManus of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Supervising Science Research Specialist Mary Lorraine Mationg of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (DEBS) presented the localized Magic Glasses video output and the results of the Magic Glasses Philippines (MGP) cluster-randomised controlled intervention trial conducted in the study site Laguna. She also facilitated the review of the research program’s protocol and procedures.
Chief Investigator Prof. Gail Williams of the University of Queensland in Australia proceeded with a discussion on the longitudinal impact of MGP and mass drug administration followed by an open forum and discussion on the next steps led by MGP Chief Investigator Dr. Veronica Tallo.
Representatives from the Department of Health’s (DOH) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) respective central and Region 4A (CALABARZON) offices as well as officers from select Laguna schools and health offices also participated in the event.
With an expanded research team composed of experts from Australia, Switzerland, China, and the Philippines, Magic Glasses eventually plans to up-scale the intervention into a “universal school-focused educational tool” as part of a holistic and integrated STH control program.
MGP is led by Principal Chief Investigator Dr. Remigio Olveda.
by Eunice Brito, Project Matyag, Research Assistant