LONDON (AP) — GlaxoSmithKline will donate 400 million doses of medicine to protect children against intestinal parasites in a programme beginning in 2012, the company said yesterday.

Combined with programmes already established, the donation of 400 million doses beginning in each of the next five years will allow African countries to provide universal protection against the parasites for school-age children, GSK said.

A single dose of albendazole would protect children against intestinal worms that are transmitted through soil, the company said. The donation to the World Health Organisation's Neglected Tropical Diseases programmes is in addition to 600 million doses a year that the company is giving to combat elephantiasis. The additional shipments are expected to begin later this year, GSK said.

The British-based drug company said that intestinal worms — mainly round worms, whipworms and hookworms — are the leading cause of ill health in school-age children, increasing problems due to malnutrition and anaemia.

Andrew Witty, Glaxo's chief executive officer, said it would cost £12 million ($19 million) per year to produce the contributions at factories in India and South Africa.