Health officials have initiated a new health awareness campaign to education mothers about proper sanitation and hygiene in order to combat the growing rates of hepatitis among school aged children in Ciudad Juarez. Between January and November of 1996, Juarez reported 308 cases of hepatitis and 37 percent of those cases involved children 14 years old and younger.
Roberto Suarez, chief of Epidemiology for Sanitation District 2 stated that it is common during the time when children are returning to school to see an increase in hepatitis cases, which are attributable to bad hygiene in the schools. The awareness campaign being undertaken by the health authorities include information on symptoms of the disease and prevention tips such as washing hands and preparing food hygenically.
Source: Diario de Juarez