• Bilharzia, also known as schistosomiasis, is grouped as a neglected tropical disease.
• It is a waterborne acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms caused by infection with the blood parasite S
Image: MAGDAINE SAYA
The Health Ministry has launched a mass drug administration exercise in Western Kenya in an effort to eliminate Bilharzia and intestinal worms.
The exercise which was launched in Sabatia in Vihiga county targets at least five million people for intestinal worms and another 1.5 million for bilharzia.
The exercise being undertaken in conjunction with partners targets Bungoma, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga counties.
Bilharzia, also known as schistosomiasis, is grouped as a neglected tropical disease.
It is a waterborne acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms caused by infection with the blood parasite S and transmission occurs when people suffering from the disease contaminate freshwater sources with their excreta containing parasite eggs which hatch in water.
Lack of hygiene and certain play habits of school-aged children such as swimming or fishing in infested water make them especially vulnerable to infection.
“The worst part is treating it is just Sh80 per tablet. You just need one dose of praziquantel and the disease is gone,” Head Division Vector-Borne diseases at the Health Ministry Dr Sultani Matendechero said.
“So you can see how lack of information and these things are neglected, they are ravaging our communities, they are exacerbating poverty,” he added.
Apart from treating with praziquantel, a more comprehensive approach including portable water, adequate sanitation and snails control would also reduce transmission.
INFERTILITY
The disease is said to be ravaging people in the Lake Region and central part of the country and quite a number of young ladies have been rendered infertile because of bilharzia.
“We launched a breaking transmission strategy in early 2019. This is a new approach which will enable us to eliminate the intestinal worms as well as bilharzia,” Matendechero said.
He added: “Breaking transmission strategy involves mass treatment of everybody, anybody who is eligible in the community you get treatment, and then we will also be looking at providing safe water because these NTDs are also linked to absence of safe water.”
The ministry through partners has been able to get funding and donations in terms of drugs that will be used in the various counties affected by the diseases.
The counties to be covered at the Coast include Lamu, Tana River, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita Taveta.
In western the ministry is starting with Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia with a possible scale up to five additional counties in the Lake region namely Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia.
Kenya might soon have access to a potential new drug for the treatment of bilharzia in pre-school children after phase III trials conducted on a new drug, arpraziquantel, found it to be efficacious and safe in children aged between three months to six years.
The trials were conducted in Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
Derived from praziquantel, arpraziquantel is an orally dispersible tablet (dissolves in the mouth).
The new tablet is small, has appropriate taste properties, can be taken with or without water, and withstands the hot and humid challenges presented by a tropical climate.
It was developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan, subsequently optimized by Merck in Germany and transferred for clinical manufacturing to Farmanguinhos in Brazil.
“With this milestone, we continue our commitment to eliminating schistosomiasis and ensuring all people affected by this neglected tropical disease have access to a life-saving therapy,” Peter Guenter said.
Guenter is a member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO of Healthcare.
Edited by D Tarus