Siaya Sets Target to Eliminate Bilharzia

Other counties targeted for the exercise include Kisumu, Homabay, and Migori.

According to Non-tropical Diseases Coordinator Charles Oduor, previously Siaya conducted a granular mapping and survey and established that Bilharzia prevalence is more than 10 percent in Bondo and Rarieda mainly because they border water bodies.

In Bondo sub-County, prevalence is highest in Yimbo West (70.73 per cent), followed by Central Sakwa(21.82 per cent) and Rarieda South Uyoma 16.73 while West Asembo had 20.0 percent.

Oduor spoke during the stakeholder sensitization meeting that aimed to update stakeholders with knowledge on disease epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, while providing effective strategies for community engagement.

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The mass drug administration of praziquantel and albendazole to adults and children will kick off this Month(November) and each person will receive a dose for free.

Its reported that the drugs consignment meant for western, Nyanza and coastal regions has cost the government KES 200 million.

The five-year program is jointly facilitated by World Health Organization, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Ministry of Health and Siaya’s Department of Health.

He further stated that Community Health Promoters will be part of the drug administration.

Oduor assured local residents that the drugs are safe and effective adding that they should cooperate with those who will be conducting the exercise.

The program was first rolled out in the country last year and no cases of deaths or side-effects have been reported.

Oduor said that the program will go up to five years and they are looking for formidable approaches where to incorporate the MDA in the county health services so that the Community Health promoters could provide the oral injection during house visits.

According to Maurice Odiere, the research scientist at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) the MDA rollout aims at interrupting transmission of the disease in endemic areas.

“We currently have a non-tropical diseases master plan that runs from 2023-2027 that lays out a strategy that is used by the Ministry of Health to achieve targets,” said Odiere.

According to the World Health Organization –Kenya representative Dr Esther Kinyeru, Kenya has adopted preventive chemotherapy to eliminate the disease.

WHO recognizes about 21 neglected tropical diseases and Kenya is endemic of 16 of them.

Africa region accounts for more than 90 percent neglected tropical diseases and of the 47 members in Africa there are at least 2 non- tropical diseases.

The burden of schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is also the highest in the region with cases accounting for about 91 per cent.

Areas with high prevalence are Western, Nyanza and Costal regions and Kenya is yet to arrive at the elimination stage.