Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
THE government launched a mass bilharzia treatment programme on Monday targeting children aged between one and 15 years. Health officials say the objective of the mass drug administration that will run until Saturday is to eliminate bilharzia, which is also known as schistosomiasis, intestinal worms, hook worms, round worms and whipworms, in the country.
If untreated, bilharzia may cause life-threatening urinary system or liver damage, bladder tumors and bowel infections.
Bulawayo director of health services, Dr Zanele Hwalima, said bilharzia and intestinal worms jointly affect a large number of people in the country, mostly of school going age.
“The national programme is targeting children aged between 1 to 15 years. The medicines to be given are both praziquantel for those aged five to 15 years and albendazole for one to 15 year olds and they will be administered in all schools, clinics and selected outreach points,” said Dr Hwalima in a circular to parents and guardians.
She encouraged parents to feed children before the drugs are administered.
“Please note that children are expected to be fed before administration of the medicines. All parents and caregivers are therefore being advised to ensure that their children carry or are given a sandwich or food to eat on the day,” Dr Hwalima said.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in a statement, said in order to minimise side effects and discomfort in children, parents should ensure that children get a meal which combines carbohydrates, proteins and vitamin C.
“Bilharzias, intestinal worms and their associated complications which had been neglected for a long time have contributed significantly to poverty and ill health through impairing learning capacity among learners, debility and loss of productive time in adults,” said the Ministry.
“To ensure elimination of the scourge of the two neglected tropical diseases in the country, the World Health Organisation recommends that at least 80 percent of the children be reached with mass treatment annually for five consecutive years.”
It said it is important for all children in the targeted age groups to be present for treatment, whether they are in school or not.
“Health workers, headmasters, teachers, parents and the community at large should therefore ensure that all eligible children receive treatment without discrimination,” said the ministry.
The ministry assured parents that both medicines that are being used in the campaign are safe and approved for mass treatment programmes as they have been in use for many years worldwide.
According to the national prevalence survey conducted in 2013, bilharzia is found in 56 districts while intestinal worms are prevalent in 47 districts out of the country’s 63 districts.