Zanzibar – SCI staff visit (21st Feb – 2nd March, 2004)Dr Russell Stothard and Dr David Rollinson (NHM) visited Zanzibar Island (Unguja) to help further develop the ‘Kick-out Kichocho’ control programme, funded by The Health Foundation, UK and SCI, and implemented by the Helminth Control Laboratory Unguja (HCLU). The HCLU is headed by Mr Ali Fouam Mgeni and has also overseen the new building extension to the laboratory, now nearing its completion. Once operational the 8 room extension will provide secure space for laboratory diagnosis, teacher training workshops & equipment/drug storage. It will be an excellent improvement of local health infrastructure.
To better define and record the morbidity associated with urinary schistosomiasis, two new morbidity assays involving Hemocue machines were tested in the field and compared to conventional urine dipstick reagents. The novel assays involved the sensitive detection and quantification of albumin and visual blood in urine; both the Urine-Albumin and Plasma-Low machines performed very well in the field, revealing that many children infected with S. haematobium excrete copious amounts of albumin indicative of lower urinary tract damage. After treatment with Praziquantel and elimination of schistosome infection, we hope to see these detrimental excretion patterns dramatically decline. Teacher training workshops are scheduled to take place during late May/June where selected teachers will attend a 3 day workshop to be trained in administration of anthelmintics, record keeping and use of public health information materials. The first round of mass anthelmintic treatment in schools, targeting some 80,000 children, will take place shortly thereafter. |
