Neglected diseases under spotlight Dr Nyasha Masuka
 Dr Nyasha Masuka

Dr Nyasha Masuka

Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
THE Government is planning to embark on a national survey to determine the prevalence of neglected tropical diseases in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been rolling out programmes to immunise people against the diseases after a survey in 2010 established that there was a need for mass campaigns against bilharzia, elephantiasis, intestinal worms and blinding trachoma.

Another immunisation programme against the diseases is underway.

In an interview yesterday, Epidemiology and Disease Control director in the Health Ministry Dr Portia Manangazira said time has come for the Ministry to review progress in fighting the diseases.

“We are planning to have another survey next year, resources permitting. We did a prevalence survey in 2010 and we were focusing on all the 63 districts in Zimbabwe in terms of bilharzia and intestinal worms. So now that we have done six consecutive mass drug administration in the country, we are also wondering if they had any impact,’ said Dr Manangazira.

“Our main aim was to break the cycle of transmission so we have to embark on a nationwide survey again on what is the prevalence.”

Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka said last year the mass drug administration reached 80 percent of the people, a figure above the World Health Organisation threshold.

“We started administering against the diseases in 2012 covering Hwange, Binga, Lupane and Nkayi districts. Last year we added Umguza and Bubi districts after it was discovered that people there are living with lymphatic worms and we wanted to avoid elephantiasis,” said Dr Masuka.

“We can only sustain the gains we have had with high water and sanitation coverage, good personal hygiene and education in schools. Let’s protect our people and eliminate these tropical diseases.”

The neglected tropical diseases are mainly transmitted to humans through vectors such as snails, mosquitos and flies when there is no good hygiene and preventative methods.

@thamamoe

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