Masvingo – From 14 to 21 October 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) supported a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in Zimbabwe aimed at combating disregarded tropical diseases (NTDs), specifically schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and soil-transmitted helminths (intestinal worms). This initiative successfully reached 1,306,043 individuals with treatment for schistosomiasis and 1,054,558 for intestinal worms, primarily targeting children below the age of 15 living in vulnerable communities.
The MDA campaign is part of Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to eliminate NTDs, which pose significant public health challenges. Schistosomiasis and intestinal worms affect millions of of us, leading to excessive health complications, particularly among children.
Launched on September 17, 2024, the second and final phase of the MDA campaign utilized faculties and health facilities across known excessive-burden wards in the chosen districts to distribute essential medications. WHO supplied over 3.6 million tablets of Praziquantel for schistosomiasis and 8.7 million tablets of Albendazole for intestinal worms, aiming to treat over 5 million children nationwide.
“This intervention is crucial as we have a pupil who has bilharzia at this college,” famed Gonda Eneresi – Musvovi Primary Faculty Health Coordinator.
The college-based approach was vital for the campaign’s effectiveness. Faculties served as accessible venues where health staff may efficiently carry medications to large teams of children, ensuring that vulnerable populations purchased necessary treatments. This formulation not handiest leveraged existing educational infrastructure nevertheless also fostered community engagement, as teachers and college staff played key roles in educating college students about these health interventions. The MDA campaign coincided with the govt.’s rollout of a feeding programme designed to enhance pupil retention. By providing at least one hot, balanced meal per day, this initiative ensured that children have taken a meal ahead of receiving their medications, benefiting those taking tablets.
Mavis Tarwakuona, a Village Health Worker, actively engaged her community by walking door-to-door and utilizing meetings to raise awareness about the campaign’s importance. Bassilisa Makaha, a grandmother from Nerwanda B Ward 3 in Bikita, expressed her toughen: “I know these outreaches are meant to give protection to our children from various diseases and my grandchildren always participate.”
Earlier than the MDA campaign, intensive training workshops were carried out for healthcare staff to make certain effective implementation. These workshops aimed to equip trainers with the necessary abilities to cascade knowledge for the duration of their districts. The collaboration between local health authorities and community leaders was vital for fostering a coordinated approach to disease management.
Dr. Thalia Mungwari, Bikita District Medical Officer, on the opposite hand expressed considerations about certain wards being overpassed during the campaign: “We are shrinking about the wards that are being unnoticed as a few of the children interact at college.”
The mass drug administration is anticipated to significantly in the reduction of the prevalence of schistosomiasis and intestinal worms among children, thereby improving overall public health outcomes. By straight addressing these diseases at the community stage, Zimbabwe aims not handiest to treat affected individuals nevertheless also to forestall future infections thru increased awareness and education.
Dr. Mkhokheli Ngwenya, Acting Team Lead for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases at WHO Zimbabwe, emphasized that this collaboration underscores a dedication to combating NTDs thru entire public health strategies.
