NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUSANZE — An international non governmental organisation, Access Project, has launched a campaign against Neglected Tropical Diseases in rural areas.

The campaign launched in Remera sector Musanze district recently, aims at combating diseases like worms, Ankylostome, eye diseases; trachoma, bilharzia among others. It targeted the most vulnerable lake-side residents of L. Burera and Ruhondo.

Dr. Denise Mupfasoni, the programme coordinator, urged residents to adopt preventive measures of controlling diseases through practising proper hygiene and sanitation.

According to research conducted by Access Project last year, in eight districts of the country, 64% of Rwandans suffer from diseases transmitted through soils, while 27% have Bilharzia. In Musanze and Burera districts alone 90% of the residents have worms.

Dr. Mupfasoni said teachers would facilitate the campaign by administering the de-worming medicine every term to pupils. The exercise would be spread to other districts countrywide.

Tropical diseases are a result of poor hygiene and affect general development of the society, Dr. Vianney Nizeyimana of the Ministry of Health, said shortly before administering mabedazole tablets to pupils.

He asked the teachers to always take time to educate young children about primary health care and good hygiene to prevent diseases due to poor sanitation.

Ends