The Ministry of Health and Child Care launched a Bilharzia Elimination Pilot Project in Shamva through the National Institute of Health Research under the Zimbabwe-China Co-operation in June, with the aim of assessing the possible use of various new diagnostic tools for testing bilharzia (schistosomiasis) in communities where the disease is common. In its 2023 bilharzia information factsheet, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says Zimbabwe is endemic to 14 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), with the top four NTDs being bilharzia, intestinal worms, elephantiasis and blinding trachoma. Bilhazia is the common name for a disease known scientifically as “Schistosomiasis”, which is an infection caused by a parasitic worm that lives in fresh water in subtropical and tropical regions. The worms that cause schistosomiasis live in fresh water, such as: You often don’t have any symptoms when you first become infected with schistosomiasis, but the parasite can remain in the body for many years and cause damage to organs such as the bladder, kidneys and liver. According to research, a person cannot notice that they have been infected, although occasionally people get small, itchy red bumps on their skin for a few days where the worms burrowed in. After a few weeks, some people develop: Schistosomiasis can usually be treated successfully with a short course of a medication called praziquantel, which kills the worms. Praziquantel is most effective once the worms have grown a bit, hence treatment may need to be repeated a few weeks after your first dose. Steroid medication can also be used to help relieve the symptoms of acute bilharzia, or symptoms caused by damage to the brain or nervous system. You can check whether the area you are visiting is known to have a problem with schistosomiasis. If you’re visiting one of these areas: Health experts say the mere practice of quickly drying yourself with a towel after getting out of the water is not a reliable way of preventing infection. But it’s still advisable to dry yourself as soon as possible if you’re accidentally exposed to potentially contaminated water. Ministry of Health and Child Care WHO https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/schistosomiasis/ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-Zimbabwe-showing-locations-of-case-studies-reviewed-produced-by-Mrs-A-Makati_fig2_225087370 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23311886.2023.2215632 FEATURED