Burkina Faso: training workshop in diagnosis of helminthsA one week training workshop in practical methods of helminth diagnosis was held in Ouagadougou during 13th – 17th September and attended by 18 district technicians.
Assembled trainers and participants
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The
18 technicians were selected from regions where further cartography of
schistosomiasis is planned during October. During the opening presentation
the director of PNLSc Dr Seydou Toure stressed that this workshop was an
important step towards further activation of peripheral health clinics in
their surveillance of the disease as well as an excellent opportunity to
better integrate and synergize mapping activities of the central PNLSc team.
Lectures were given by Drs Bertrand Sellin & Russell Stothard concerning the
general operations of the SCI, the biology of schistosomes and intestinal
worms, their associated burdens of disease and the appropriate methods of
community diagnosis. The training workshop were also featured on national
TV.
All
participants were trained in Kato-Katz preparations and 10ml standard urine
filtration inclusive of ‘hands on’ microscopy for recognition and counting
of helminth eggs. Correct use of the data entry forms, prepared by Mr Archie
Clements for the forthcoming mapping exercise, were highlighted by Dr Albis
Gabrielli and in order to move towards a contemporary comprehensive map of
the distribution of schistosomiasis in Burkina Faso, the importance of data
standardization was stressed throughout. To this end Dr Stothard gave a
lecture demonstrating how these data will be used to predict areas of high
risk of schistosomiasis not only in Burkina Faso, but also in other West
African countries.