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Bilharzia Control launched on Unguja Island, Zanzibar
On Saturday October 18th, His Excellency the
President of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume and the Minister of Health the
Honourable Mwinyihaji Makame launched the campaign “Piga Vita Kichocho”
“Kick out Kichocho” or “Kick out Bilharzia”.
The programme, financed in part by the Health Foundation, a
UK charity, aims to treat all school aged children in infected areas of
Unguja Island over the next three years, and examine the possibilities of
vector control by replacing susceptible vector snails with non susceptible
snails. The control of bilharzias will be carried out by the Ministry of
Public Health under the direction of Ali Foum. The strategy will be that
recommended by the World Health Organisation, that is:
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If over 20% of children in a school are infected then all
school aged children will be offered mass treatment annually.
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If over 50% of children are infected, the whole community
will be offered treatment.
The launch ceremony was held at the Kinyasini primary
school some 20 km from Stone Town on Unguja Island. The weather was very
kind and the heavy rain shower cleared just before the arrival of the
honoured guests.
Dr. Lorenzo Savioli (WHO) and His Excellency the President of Zanzibar,
Amani Abeid Karume
At the launch there were children who danced and others who
read out descriptive poems to rally the children against bilharzia. Dr.
David Rollinson from the Natural History Museum pledged support for the
programme from the UK Health Foundation, and from their other partner, SCI.
Dr. Uledi Kisumku, acting principal secretary welcomed the launch, and then
President Karume addressed the thousands of children and adults present for
the ceremony. President Karume welcomed the visitors, including Dr. Ursuline
Nyandindi from the mainland Ministry of Health, three from SCI (Dr. Alan
Fenwick, Dr. Albis Gabrielli and Dr. Lynsey Blair), Dr. Lorenzo Savioli from
WHO, Geneva, and Dr. Allessandra Carozzi de Carneri, the President of the
Ivo De Carneri Foundation which supports the Public Health Laboratories on
Pemba Island. Others present included the High Commissioner to Zanzibar from
India and the representative from UNICEF.
Dr Ursuline Nyandindi from the mainland Ministry of Health, Dr Lynsey Blair
and Dr Albis Gabrielli from the SCI
The President toured a demonstration which showed the host
snails, the methods of diagnosis and treatment, and included some patients
with their bloody urine ready for examination. The President showed great
interest in the demonstration and invited the guests from overseas with the
Minister of Health back to State House. The President was so pleased with
this initiative that he accepted an invitation to officiate at the launch on
Pemba Island on January 6th 2004.
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