Some 86,218 children from Ioba, aged between 5 and 14 years old, are the targets of a mass treatment campaign for the elimination of schistosomiasis or bilharzia, scheduled for May 14 to 19, 2024 throughout Burkina Faso, except the Cascades region, the AIB learned.
The High Commissioner of Ioba province, Bernadette Adenyo / Sermé, chaired an advocacy meeting for the campaign to fight schistosomiasis or bilharzia on Wednesday May 8, 2024 in Dano.
The advocacy meeting was initiated to encourage the commitment of authorities and opinion leaders in the fight against schistosomiasis or bilharzia.
In his presentation, Adama Soré from the management team of the Dano health district indicated that bilharzia remains a reality in Burkina Faso and in the province of Ioba. It constitutes a public health problem, he stressed. It is a disease which manifests itself mainly by the presence of blood in the urine or stools.
In the long term, it can lead to bladder, kidney and genital cancer in women, explained Mr. Soré.
T
his parasitosis is contracted from water polluted by faecal danger and the ejection of contaminated urine. When the population comes into contact with infested water, it is transmitted by transcutaneous inoculation of the worm larvae.
According to him, its elimination necessarily involves mass treatment (TDM) based on the tablet drug called praziquantel and the interruption of the chain of transmission.
This is why this TDM campaign is organized from May 14 to 19, 2024 in 42 health districts in 12 regions of Burkina Faso.
Only the Cascades region is not affected by this campaign.
Children aged 5 to 14 are the target audience for this mass treatment against schistosomiasis.
In the South-West, the health districts of Batié and Dano are affected by this campaign. The prevalence rate of the disease in the Dano health district is 33%. In Ioba, at least 86,218 children will receive praziquantel.
The TDM campaign aims to eradicate bilharzia and reduce the prevalence of high-intensity infections to less than 5%
in the sites, noted Adama Soré.
During the 6 days of the campaign, education and communication information sessions are planned to raise awareness of the role of humans in the transmission of schistosomiasis.
For the chief medical officer of the health district (MCD) of Dano, Dr Salam Mandé, the commitment of administrative, religious and customary authorities, leaders of civil society organizations and the media is necessary to achieve the objectives of the campaign. of CT against schistosomiasis.
The high commissioner of Ioba province, Bernadette Adenyo / Sermé said this meeting must guarantee the success of the TDM campaign against schistosomiasis.
‘He expected the umbrella structures of religious, customary, young people, women, CSOs and NGOs to support health workers in raising awareness with a view to strong mobilization and support from the populations. Special delegations must support health facilities. The prefects, customary officials and religious must intervene in resolving cases of reluctance
,’ she clarified.
She also asked to emphasize awareness for hygiene and sanitation by combating open defecation.
Ms. Adenyo thanked and encouraged all the staff of the Dano health district for the sacrifice made on a daily basis to guarantee the health of the population
Source: Burkina Information Agency