Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is rolling out mass drug administration (MDA) aimed at controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases, which include schistosomiasis, commonly referred to as bilharzia, targeting children aged between five and 14 years.
The MDA, which primarily targeted high‑risk areas, started on Monday and ends today (Friday).
Almost two months into the year, statistics from the districts of Manicaland indicate that 71 cases were reported in Buhera, Chimanimani (25), Chipinge (three), Makoni (73), Mutare (50), Mutasa (51) and Nyanga (two).
Provincial Medical Director (PMD) for Manicaland, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga confirmed the ongoing MDA.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, has been implementing the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme against schistosomiasis (bilharzia). The MDA is targeting children aged between five and 14 years.
“The MDA programme is targeting specific wards with a high burden of schistosomiasis. The programme will be school‑based and the implementation dates are from February16 to 20, 2026,” he said, adding that the bilharzia burden in the province is showing a decline.
“The provincial cases for schistosomiasis were high in 2024 and there was a significant reduction of cases in 2025. This is a reflection that the MDA programme is having an impact in reducing schistosomiasis cases. This is a public health strategy which involves the administration of medication to affected populations in a specific, high‑risk area. Mass Drug Administration is NOT vaccination, but administration of medicines to affected populations. The strategy is used to control or eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases, which include schistosomiasis, soil‑transmitted helminths (parasitic worms), lymphatic filariasis and blinding trachoma. This is done to interrupt transmission and reduce disease burden,” said Dr Mukuzunga.
The MDA is repeated at intervals, often annually, to achieve high coverage and maximum impact. Apparently, the MDA cycles depend on periodic surveys that are done to determine the occurrence and prevalence, and this gives a guide on which disease to focus on, where to implement the programme and the frequency of the programme.
Ideally, everyone is at risk of schistosomiasis, but the most at risk are children aged between five and 14 years, given that children usually enjoy playing, swimming or crossing rivers barefoot on their way to school. Women, including girls, are also at risk as they are exposed during daily activities like collecting water, washing dishes, clothes or laundry in unprotected water sources.
Schistosomiasis cases are common mostly in rural areas and agricultural areas where people are exposed to contact with infected fresh water—rivers, dams, streams or irrigation canals.
These water bodies provide ideal environments for snail breeding. The snails are intermediate hosts in the life cycle of schistosomiasis. Poorly maintained irrigation canals also promote breeding of snails.
Lack of sound sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, leading to open defecation and urination, particularly in rural areas, allows parasite eggs to enter water bodies, thereby exacerbating the spread of the disease. This is also compounded by limited access to safe water, resulting in people relying on infested water from dams and rivers.
“The disease is mostly prevalent among people with low income, rural communities with limited resources for better infrastructure. Low knowledge levels, where people have poor awareness of the disease picture in areas such as its causes, spread, symptoms and prevention measures. There is also the aspect of myths and misconceptions related to cultural beliefs on causes, where people associate causes of disease with witchcraft or eating certain foods. This delays treatment and people develop complications. Religious practices—refusal to get treatment—is also a factor,” said Dr Mukuzunga.
