Only 40 tablets were available at this Primary Health Care Clinic – a typical quantity at any given clinic. This is only enough for 10 children! However, an estimated 5.1 million South Africans, mainly rural, are in need of treatment. In spite of severe morbidity and mortality, schistosomiasis remains a neglected disease, especially for girls and women. The World Health Organization recommends regular mass treatment of all school-aged children, and this has also been a South African policy since 2008, all should be treated.
If given in childhood, tablets prevent and reduce the socio-economic impact if schistosomiasis. However, clinics will not be able handle the expected influx of patients.