Kigali, Rwanda — The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Columbia University’s Access Project, organized the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 2010 annual workshop, which was held at Laico Umubano Hotel on July 20, 2010. The objective of the meeting was to share the achievements accomplished by the NTD Control Program since its inception 3 years ago and to discuss the integration of the NTD Control Program strategies into existing initiatives.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, launched the workshop by applauding the program’s impressive achievements over the past 3 years.
“We are happy with all the achievements in the fight against intestinal worms and bilharzias in Rwanda, but together with our stakeholders invited to this workshop, we are expecting to come up with strong program implementation strategies and discuss the feasibility of successfully integrating the program into existing initiatives” she said.
The NTD Control Program’s first activity was conducting a national assessment on the five most important NTDs in Rwanda, namely soil transmitted helminths (STHs), schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerchiasis.
“The mapping exercise revealed that only STH infections, more commonly known as intestinal worms, and schistosomiasis are public health problems throughout the country,” explained Dr. Blaise Karibushi, Country Director of the Access Project.
The overall prevalence of STHs was found to be 66% among school children. Rates were highest in the Northern and Western Provinces, and prevalence surpassed 70% in 15 of Rwanda’s 30 districts. Schistosomiasis (also known as snail fever) was found in 3% of Rwandan school children overall but was found to affect up to 70% of school children living in close proximity to lakes or swamps. Prevalence rates were highest around Lakes Ruhondo, Muhazi, Burera, Rweru and Kivu.
As part of the effort to raise the population’s awareness of NTDs, the NTD Control Program worked in conjunction with district hospitals to train health workers who in turn trained primary school teachers and community health workers (CHWs). These trainees passed their new knowledge on to others through the education, sensitization and treatment of schools and communities.
In the past three years, 3,691 teachers, 10,977 CHWs, 719 health workers and 28 journalists have received training. Additionally, 301 lab technicians from 30 districts were trained on how to diagnose STH and schistosomiasis infections and 16 Ophthalmologic clinical officers were trained on how to screen for trachoma using the Trachoma Rapid Assessment (TRA).
Seven medical doctors from schistosomiasis endemic districts were also trained on how to perform an ultrasound diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni. The trainees have since helped the NTD Control Program with conducting the TRA and the recent trachoma prevalence survey, and will continue to use these tools while making new diagnoses in their respective districts.
Children aged from 1 to 16 years old were de-wormed twice a year with mebendazole (MBZ) or albendazole (ALB). In addition, children aged 5 to16 years old in schistosomiasis endemic districts were de-wormed once a year with praziquantel (PZQ). Mass drug administration (MDA) efforts were integrated into Mother and Child Health (MCH) Week campaigns organized by the MoH in collaboration with UNICEF, the Access Project, WHO and other partners.
The NTD Control Program has also initiated a series of social mobilization and sensitization efforts to promote NTD prevention. The program has produced and distributed an array of information education and communication (IEC) materials, including comic books, drug distribution guides, flip books, posters, booklets, songs and video cartoons. Comic series, quiz and other educative radio programs were broadcasted on national and private radio stations. Video comic cartoons, documentary films and other health programs such as “Gira Ubuzima” were also broadcasted on Rwanda National Television.
Recommendations given by the stakeholders present at the day-long workshop focused on the sustainability of the NTD Control Program. It was determined that together with its partners, the program will develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the years 2011-2015 which will outline the next actions to take in the fight against NTDs
The program will focus on preventative rather than curative actions such as sensitizing the population and promoting low cost technologies that improve sanitation and access to clean water.The workshop brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, USAID, CTB, ICAP, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), CDC/Rwanda, the School of Public Health from the National University of Rwanda, RARDA, the Rwanda Health Communication Center, the Rwanda Office of Information (ORINFOR), district hospital representatives and the Access Project.
The Access Project improves the health of poor communities and health infrastructure by applying a business management approach to public health systems and increasing access to life-saving drugs and quality care. The Access Project is partnering with the Ministry of Health to build the processes and capacity of Rwanda’s health system to dramatically reduce the burden of NTDs.
Contact: Malick Kayumba, The Access Project,
In Rwanda: Raissa Kalinganire:
In the USA: Karen Schmidt: