Reuters AlertNet Lite - In Brief: No funding, more worms in Mali

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

In Brief: No funding, more worms in Mali

08 May 2009 12:22:13 GMT
Source: IRIN

DAKAR, 8 May 2009 (IRIN) - After a donor-funded national schistosomiasis control program in Mali ended in 1992, the organ-destroying worm disease that affects about 200 million people worldwide (World Health Organization) rebounded within 12 years, according to a recently published medical study.

The disease can damage the bladder, ureters, kidneys, liver, spleen and intestines.

Even though endemic communities in Mali received intensive treatment and health education on schistosomiasis from 1982-1992, the infection was still as widespread nationwide in 2004 as earlier decades, according to researchers.

Despite the 10-year programme, study leader Archie Clements from Australia's The University of Queensland said control needs to be delivered even longer – "over a very long time period" – to have a lasting impact.

Since Malian government funding for schistosomiasis ended in 1998, the disease received little attention until the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Schistosomiasis Control Initiative started in 2004.

pt/aj

Email this article Send comments

NGO latest

• As global recession worsens, is malaria killing Africa's potential?
World Vision - USA

• Some countries to suffer 50% income drop
ActionAid

MORE >>

Latest news

• In Brief: No funding, more worms in Mali

• In Brief: New education index places Chad last

• In Brief: New education index places Chad last

• Sahara states to mount anti-Qaeda operation:reports

• WEST AFRICA: Regional bodies, governments gear up H1N1 influenza response

MORE >>

IRIN news