Government has disclosed that approximately two million people are currently affected with bilharzia in the country.
Minister of Education, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, said bilharzia prevalence rate is currently estimated at 90 per cent in some communities, a situation that has affected the performance of pupils and growth of children.
Professor Lungwangwa disclosed this today when he officially opened a training workshop for teachers on bilharzia and soil transmitted infections in Lusaka..
He said it is important to treat bilharzia and intestinal worms at an early stage because it could affect fertility in women and kidney damage in men.
Professor Lungwangwa noted that bilharzia was found in all the provinces and districts in Zambia, particularly those found near lakes and rivers.
He added that infections such as intestinal worms are very common throughout the country, which might result children and pregnant women having anemia.
Professor Lungwangwa said the training of teachers will go a long way in fighting the prevalence of the disease at the source among communities.
He said at the end of the training workshop, the teachers will have the capacity to assist in fighting the diseases in the country.
And speaking at the same occasion, Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia, Nuri Betel Mal expressed happiness at the turnout of teachers and urged them to ensure that they disseminate information in their communities and schools.
Mr. Mal said that the training has been sponsored by the Arab League Fund, which is aimed at providing technical assistance to African countries in fighting diseases such as bilharzia.
ZANIS/WM/KSH/ENDS
The money meant for Zimbabwe just found a home. If funding is not redirected nala shooter words of endearment though I am Christian lol. Back to my senses, it is time we wake up in Zambia; we in this chasm called the Diaspora need to arise and take action. Our nation cannot vanish while we slumber. Talk is cheap let me plan and move on text later.
# 1 lets connect. I have a small philianthropic project going in Zambia. Maybe we can brainstorm and come up with something solid other than just talk.
Interesting statistics. Well the disease is not really hard gto fight, as compared to HIV/AIDS. Yes we can get rid of it.
The disease is very curable and Zambia has the potential of completely erradicated except there seem to be too much cheap talk and seminars aimed at self aggrandizement. As long as the nations’ financial administrators continue to abuse our taxes through failure to plan for these funds we shall continue to be engulfed with shameful ailments such as bilharzia
How shameful for our country with educated people. Put health professionals to use to tour schools , rural areas , and educate the people. The cure is very simple, clean drinking water, and seeing to it that people don’t eat uncooked food. Food that has to be eaten raw MUSt be grown on treated soil that is free from worms and snail eggs. Enforcement of standards on agriculture produce is very important. God help us what can we do?
Thats an exaggeration bwana minister. Where has been ministry of health? Heads should start rolling.
Honestly speaking, what do you expect with the poor water system and programmes in place in zambia?
No safe drinking H2o for almost half of the Zambian population after 44 years in making as independents from the colonialists??? This is one of the outstanding pain in the butt…..
Then the mass population go to rivers to fetch their daily water needs and they are chewed by crocodiles….almost daily…..my feet…!!!
Mikomfwa I hear you, I assume you feel the pain I do evey time you see the wrongs done in our beloved land. Being in the US, hs opened my eyes. Even with the craziness some people here show, the system to some extent a great extent may I add. My family hails from Luanshya and other towns on the copperbelt, plus Lusaka; thus I know how vastly our great health and mental responsibilities have been dragged back in Zambia. Thankyou all, for I have seen the results of your seeds germinating Ku nyumba. Even our contribution to the economy via forex has started to peek. Suggestion, send money to family members, instruct them to buy clothes from local Tailors and produce from farms and small scale growers. It starts there, text you all later.
there we go again,wasting money on workshops,targeting wrong pipo.so what after the workshop for these teachers?one would think that this is suppose to fall under public health or community medicine.as rural communities at highest risk,one expects officers under district health offices to design programs on pipo shud be sensitised on various public health matters.we have environmental health personnel at district,provincial and central levels,and as such apply resources like this.
in #9 last sent…..,and as such cannot apply resources like this.
#5,point of correction.Belhazia is not caused by eating row food.main source of infestation is stagnant stream or pond or lake water which harbours infested snails as primary hosts.in rural areas,kids who are more prone to the infestation due to lower acquired immunity (post exposure immunity) get these parasites as they bath,swim,play in such waters.as such,best solution lies on primary prevention where efforts are put on trying to rid or reduce the population of the snails carrying the parasites,and sensitising these affected communities on the ways to avoid or minimise exposure to the parasites,of course secondarily, infested kids must receive appropriate treatment.
Treat the sources that harbor these snails slow flowing streams and stagnant water becoz kids will be kids they play in water n thats a source of entertainment in rural areas regular treatment of these waters will reduce numbers thats first step then talk about prevention and treatment afterwards
LT can u please tell some of us what this bilharzia is ?