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Fairness Moyana, recently in Victoria Falls
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed satisfaction on Zimbabwe’s efforts in eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) arguing that the country had set precedence for other countries to follow as evidenced by a notable decline in bilharzia and intestinal worms cases.
WHO technical officer responsible for Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and soil transmitted Helminths (intestinal worms), Dr Pauline Mwinzi told Sunday News in an interview on the sidelines of the just ended Impact Assessment stakeholders meeting in Victoria Falls, following six annual rounds of Mass Drug Administration for Bilharzia and Intestinal worms, that the country had posted positives in the fight to against NTDs.
“We are very impressed with progress that Zimbabwe has made, the country has shown great leadership from the Ministry of Health (and Child Care) on MDA programme especially in the last six years which culminated in this impact assessment which has shown great reduction of the diseases known as bilharzia and intestinal worms.
“We want to congratulate the people of Zimbabwe, Government and Ministry of Health (and Child Care) for this great achievement,” said Dr Mwinzi.
She said as the country moves towards elimination of the diseases there was a need to involve key sectors such as environmental management organisations and communities.
“The next steps are going to involve intensive approach so as to finally eliminate these diseases from the existing hotspots and this will require involvement of the other sectors involved in environmental management protecting the water bodies, ensuring that there are no infested snails in the waters where children play and mothers come to fetch water and so on.
“Also, to ensure that people are well educated about issues so they can participate in eliminating the disease.”
Dr Mwinzi applauded Higherlife Foundation for joining the fight against NTDs.
“We want to commend everyone who was involved, partners such as Unicef and we also want to welcome a new entrant into the platform who is a local philanthropist Higherlife Foundation. This is very highly commendable homegrown philanthropy supporting MDA, Ministry of Health and health promotion in the country.
“WHO will continue to support technically, that’s what we have been doing in this exercise, making sure that there is some technical support in all the needed areas,” she said.
The End Fund together with Higherlife Foundation recently pledged to extend technical and financial support for another six years as the country intensifies its fight to end NTDs.
Director for Epidemiology Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira said the country had done well in eliminating Schistosomiasis as the prevalence rate had declined.
“Schistosomiasis is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical areas especially in poor communities without proper access to safe water and adequate sanitation. From the MDA impact assessment, Zimbabwe has done very well in eliminating transmission of Schistosomiasis.”
The programme, which began in 2012 was a response to the high burden of the two NTDs prevalent in 57 out of the country’s 63 districts.
Prior to that in 2010, a nationwide survey indicated that Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and soil transmitted Helminths (intestinal worms) are two major neglected tropical diseases occurring widely in the country.
Over 24 million cumulative school age children were treated during the six rounds of MDA with support mainly coming from WHO, END Fund and Higherlife Foundation.
Online Reporter