Feb 9, 2016
South African Broadcasting Corporation: The Departments of Basic Education, Health and Social Development have today officially launched the national school de-worming programme [for STHs with Mebendazole] at the Zimasa Primary school in Langa. The programme forms part of the integrated school health programme and will focus on health, education and the regular de-worming of children. The programme will be rolled out nationally to all Grade R to 7 learners in quintile one to three primary schools. The Department of Basic Education has partnered with the World Health Organisation and has secured seven million de-worming tablets that will be distributed to the children. Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga, says the schools chosen are all part of the departments pro-poor programme. Motshekga was joined by various stake-holders on a walkabout to the nurses’ rooms where the de-worming tablets and other vaccines will be administered. Five hard facts: Soil transmitted helminths (STHs) in South Africa constitute the worms A. lumbrocoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm. They cause tiredness and stomach problems. Further, these worms and have been found to contribute to cycle of poverty. Repeated treatment is necessary to curb the reinfections The school deworming programme will not treat Bilharzia which is the second most important parasite after Malaria in terms of public health impact in the world. Quintile 1-3 (of five in total) are the poorest schools in South Africa. These schools also have a school feeding programme. Mebendazole is the only the second best choice treatment for these STHs. For T. trichiura Albendazole should be given. Literature Berge ST, Kabatereine NB, Gundersen SG, et al.; Generic praziquantel in South Africa: The necessity for policy change to avail cheap, safe...
Jan 29, 2016
The Leprosy Mission’s Dr Laubscher shared the following message from leprosy patients: They are keen to speak about the disease and address issues of stigma They don’t want other cases to wait for decades for treatment They want to be part of health education They are convinced that there are many undiagnosed cases They don’t want their families to suffer They want to be heard by the Department of Health Their independence is important to them They are interested in economic development of people with disabilities For more information contact Dr Laubscher...
Jan 23, 2016
PhD Candidates Pavitra Pillay, Nonhlanhla Mbathi and Dr Hashini Galappaththi-Arachchige presented their work, as well as practical and ethical aspects of research on reproductive tract disease. Masters Student and Teacher Edmore Mazani discussed his protocol for use in rural schools and Dr Sigve Holmen (PhD Candidate), Harding Hospital, presented possibilities for diagnostic tools. Our former Masters Student Adele Munsami, now PhD Candidate at CAPRISA presented her upcoming article from the Departments of Psychology and Public Health whilst academic Assistant Lea Nga Tran (MEcon) presented data on teenagers and their willingness to participate in research. Four medical students from Norway visited the project together with Professor Borghild Roald. They did their very first presentations in English and did well: Lynn Duong, Cornelia Kristiansen, Kristine Hjetland and Ingunn...
Dec 14, 2015
A study of South African women living in a rural area endemic of urogenital schistosomiasis. PhD Candidate Elisabeth Kleppa of University of Oslo successfully defended her PhD with opponents Agnes Chenine and Per Kallestrup. More than 110 million Africans are estimated to be infected with Schistosoma (S.) haematobium, but it is still one of the so-called “neglected tropical diseases”. Poor countries bear the majority of the disease burden, contributing to the maintenance of the cycle of poverty. In Africa, women are at a higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than men, and this cannot be explained by behavioural factors alone. Biological risk factors seem to contribute to the differences in HIV prevalence between geographical regions and genders. This thesis will focus on female genital schistosomiasis and cervical ectopy, both factors hypothesised to facilitate the transmission of HIV through the genital mucosa. Genital schistosomiasis in women is characterized by lesions referred to as “sandy patches” that appear grainy or homogenous and are thought to be caused by the deposition of ova in the genital tissues. Sandy patches are often associated with abnormal mucosal blood vessels and contact bleeding due to the fragile mucosa. Cervical ectopy and female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) may be diagnosed by photocolposcopic examination, and both conditions are likely to be present before sexual debut. In addition to increased susceptibility to HIV infection, S. haematobium infection has been suggested to accelerate the progression of HIV infection, possibly through increased immune activation. In this study, South African women attending high schools in KwaZulu-Natal were included. Blood, urine and cervical lavage samples were collected and a photocolposcopic examination...
Dec 3, 2015
Public funding for neglected disease research and development was actually at its lowest level in seven years, with public funding for non-Ebola R&D dropping by $62m in 2014. As the world’s biggest funder of neglected disease R&D, much of this decline has been driven by the US Government. US Government funding for non-Ebola neglected disease R&D fell again in 2014 – further extending the large sequester-related cuts of the previous year – to be nearly a quarter of a billion dollars ($221m) below its 2009...
Nov 9, 2015
Child stunting, anaemia, impaired learning ability and the negative impact on health and socio-economic status may be prevented by correct treatment and Sister Siphumile Mlambo, CDC Ugu, informed us that South Africa is one of the five countries – worldwide – that has yet to map the presence of the worm diseases. In order to curb the devastating health consequences of worms some areas might need mass-treatment. Ugu District has been the first to pilot mass-treatment in some schools the last decade. However many areas in South Africa are unexplored and therefore urine and faeces must be collected in each of South Africa’s 52 districts. This will make it possible to decide on the best treatment strategies for the different areas. Ugu District Department of Health: Deputy District Manager, Sister Thoko Ntuli emphasised the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to managing urogenital Bilharzia and the soil-transmitted helminths (intestinal worms). Dr Lester Chitsulo (Geneva/Malawi) who has worked on Female Genital Schistosomiasis and so-called Neglected Tropical Diseases for the World Health Organisation presented the plight of children with schistosomiasis and discussed the necessity for early management of disease. Dr Femi Olowookorun, Ugu District Medical Officer, spoke about the possible intervention points in the wake of the upcoming infant syrup for treatment of the disease. The BRIGHT team (University of KwaZulu-Natal) presented the latest news in research and also gave a practical approach to teenagers in need of health services. A lively discussion ensued, especially as Dr. Patricia Ndhlovu, Imperial College, UK, spoke about the hot spots of infested rivers near some of our local schools. Sister Siphumile Mlambo Dr Femi Olowookorun BRIGHT team, Sister Nombeko Mpofana (below)...
