Uganda subdues Guinea worm
Apr 06, 2003
An increase of safe water provision in the Guinea worm endemic districts has reduced the number of indigenous cases from 126,369 in 1992 to five by December, 2002.
By Dan nSalasatta
An increase of safe water provision in the Guinea worm endemic districts has reduced the number of indigenous cases from 126,369 in 1992 to five by December, 2002, . There were also 17 imported cases from the Sudan.
This represents a reduction of 99.9%.
Endemic villages have also registered dramatic reductions, from 2667 in 1992 to 3 in 2002; which represents 99.7% reduction. The disease has virtually been eliminated from 14 of the 16 endemic districts.
Dr. J.B Rwakimari, programme manager of the Uganda Guinea Worm Eradication Programme said the water coverage in the Guinea Worm endemic districts at 74% has made this dream a reality.
He was expounding on the theme of this year’s World Water Day: Water for the future.
He said the protection of the water will always bear happy returns. The residents of the northern districts suffered with Guinea worm because they had limited access to safe, clean water.
Rwakimari said in the national case search studies carried out in 1991, Uganda was second to Nigeria in the number of reported cases of Guinea worm.
Today, the number of cases are indeed very few.
The Guinea worm is the largest of the round-worm parasites that attacks humans. It is transmitted by drinking water that contains a small crustacean (cyclops), which serves as intermediate host of the worm. The larvae of the worm become infective to humans while still in the cyclops (a type of water flea). Once ingested from contaminated water, the worm gestates for about one year and reaches a length of about one metre.
It migrates to a point in the body (usually the foot or lower leg) and emerges over a period of several weeks. A water source becomes contaminated when a person with an emerging worm places the infected area into the water.
This disease does not usually a kill the host, but will disable an infected person for several months, perhaps even causing long term disability. Preventing consumption of contaminated water can break the cycle of infection.
He said the current statistics of cases in the endemic countries are Sudan, 17,537; Ghana, 3,286; Nigeria, 2191; Togo, 760; Burkina Faso, 300; Cote D’ivore, 188; Mali, 73; Benin, 52; Niger, 50; Ethiopia, 19, Mauritania, 6; Uganda, 5.
This achievement inspired the former president of Nigeria, Yakoub Gawon, to come to Uganda to attend the Uganda Guinea Worm Meeting held April 1-4. He wanted to see and hear the true testimony of this miraculous success.
Some of the strategies Uganda used to reduce the incidence of Guinea worm infection include mobilisation and recruitment of village volunteers to report cases on reward basis of sh50,000 per infected person.
There has also been increased water supply by the construction of bore-holes, provision of free nylon water filters, chemical (Abate) treatment of contaminated water sources and spot identification of new cases as well as increased advocacy and support form political leaders.
Rwakimari said the challenges to complete eradication include the following: There have been rebel activities in Kitgum district.
In Karamaoja region, insecurity created by cattle rustling and tribal raids have hindered the eradication programme.
The Karimojong people are nomadic, thus making it difficult to deliver health services to them.
There is a high level of illiteracy prevailing in the population. This makes communication and mobilisation of the people difficult. Health education messages are not easily perceived. There is complacency on the part of some health workers. Regular support supervision is quite important at all levels.
An increase of safe water provision in the Guinea worm endemic districts has reduced the number of indigenous cases from 126,369 in 1992 to five by December, 2002, . There were also 17 imported cases from the Sudan.
This represents a reduction of 99.9%.
Endemic villages have also registered dramatic reductions, from 2667 in 1992 to 3 in 2002; which represents 99.7% reduction. The disease has virtually been eliminated from 14 of the 16 endemic districts.
Dr. J.B Rwakimari, programme manager of the Uganda Guinea Worm Eradication Programme said the water coverage in the Guinea Worm endemic districts at 74% has made this dream a reality.
He was expounding on the theme of this year’s World Water Day: Water for the future.
He said the protection of the water will always bear happy returns. The residents of the northern districts suffered with Guinea worm because they had limited access to safe, clean water.
Rwakimari said in the national case search studies carried out in 1991, Uganda was second to Nigeria in the number of reported cases of Guinea worm.
Today, the number of cases are indeed very few.
The Guinea worm is the largest of the round-worm parasites that attacks humans. It is transmitted by drinking water that contains a small crustacean (cyclops), which serves as intermediate host of the worm. The larvae of the worm become infective to humans while still in the cyclops (a type of water flea). Once ingested from contaminated water, the worm gestates for about one year and reaches a length of about one metre.
It migrates to a point in the body (usually the foot or lower leg) and emerges over a period of several weeks. A water source becomes contaminated when a person with an emerging worm places the infected area into the water.
This disease does not usually a kill the host, but will disable an infected person for several months, perhaps even causing long term disability. Preventing consumption of contaminated water can break the cycle of infection.
He said the current statistics of cases in the endemic countries are Sudan, 17,537; Ghana, 3,286; Nigeria, 2191; Togo, 760; Burkina Faso, 300; Cote D’ivore, 188; Mali, 73; Benin, 52; Niger, 50; Ethiopia, 19, Mauritania, 6; Uganda, 5.
This achievement inspired the former president of Nigeria, Yakoub Gawon, to come to Uganda to attend the Uganda Guinea Worm Meeting held April 1-4. He wanted to see and hear the true testimony of this miraculous success.
Some of the strategies Uganda used to reduce the incidence of Guinea worm infection include mobilisation and recruitment of village volunteers to report cases on reward basis of sh50,000 per infected person.
There has also been increased water supply by the construction of bore-holes, provision of free nylon water filters, chemical (Abate) treatment of contaminated water sources and spot identification of new cases as well as increased advocacy and support form political leaders.
Rwakimari said the challenges to complete eradication include the following: There have been rebel activities in Kitgum district.
In Karamaoja region, insecurity created by cattle rustling and tribal raids have hindered the eradication programme.
The Karimojong people are nomadic, thus making it difficult to deliver health services to them.
There is a high level of illiteracy prevailing in the population. This makes communication and mobilisation of the people difficult. Health education messages are not easily perceived. There is complacency on the part of some health workers. Regular support supervision is quite important at all levels.