Female Genital Schistosomiasis at an HIV conference

Female Genital Schistosomiasis at an HIV conference

Adolescent young women are still becoming HIV positive at an alarming rate and the HIV community has classified them as a so-called “key population”. It is crucial that the HIV community also tackles Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) and it was...
The first 1000 days

The first 1000 days

“The first 1000 days: from the mother’s womb to infanthood is an important but often forgotten period of the pathway to a healthy life”. In Lancet Infectious Diseases Dr Joseph Freer and colleagues today describe the effect of schistosomiasis during...
Rural field work

Rural field work

Marking 5 years of clinical research in Ilembe the team is closing for the exam period. “We have recently seen very severe cases of Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS)”, says Nurse Nombeko Mpofana (right). “Some have no choice but to use the river for laundry and...
The WHO Pocket Atlas used in FGS study in Nigeria

The WHO Pocket Atlas used in FGS study in Nigeria

Professor Uwen Ekpo of Nigeria and his team in Ogun State have identified the first twenty adult women with FGS using the WHO Pocket Atlas for Female Genital Schistosomiasis (image). Fourteen of the 20 women had FGS (70·0%). Ten had grainy-sandy patches (image), 6 had...
Automatic diagnosis of genital schistosomiasis

Automatic diagnosis of genital schistosomiasis

Dr Sigve Holmen’s PhD thesis showed an interesting, innovative non-invasive approach to the diagnosis of Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), representing an original contribution to the knowledge in the field. BRIGHT Researcher, Sigve Homen (right), defended his PhD...
Human papillomavirus types in young women

Human papillomavirus types in young women

BRIGHT Researcher, Nonhlanhla Mbatha (right) was awarded a PhD for her work on virus types in rural young women that may cause cancer. High-risk human papillomavirus infections occur frequently in young women. The available vaccines cover up to seven high-risk-HPV...