NYABIHU — Rwanda should mount a sustainable campaign against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) because they hamper development, an official has said.

Dr. Blaise Karibushi, the Country Director of Access Project, said NTDs present major obstacles to social and economic development of the country.

He was recently speaking at a ceremony to launch a health campaign against NTDs in Nyabihu District. The Access-funded project was launched in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

It seeks to eradicate NTDs including three soil-transmitted helminth infections, leprosy, and trachoma among others. But it lays particular emphasis on intestinal worm infections.

During the launching, at Kazuba Primary School,  last weekend, over 2000 children of school-going age were given de-worming tablets (Albendazole) administered by teachers.

Dr. Karibushi said the reason NTDs, were common in rural areas is because of poor sanitation.

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

The NTD Programme coordinator at Access Project, Dr. Denise Mupfasoni also urged pupils and residents to adopt preventive measures of controlling diseases by ensuring proper hygiene.

Paul Nyamurinda, the school director, said NTDs hamper the children’s schooling through absenteeism associated with severe episodes of the diseases.

"We need to improve sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in primary schools to make sure that our children are safe in order to concentrate on their studies,” he said.

Present at the function were local leaders and delegates from Gates Foundation. According to organizers, Kazuba Primary School was chosen to host the ceremony due to inadequate sanitation facilities which resulted into high prevalence of intestinal worms among children.

The school currently operates without running water and insufficient latrine facilities, which are in poor condition. At more than 90%, Nyabihu District has one of the highest prevalence rates of soil transmitted helminthes (STH) infections in the country, according to research conducted by Access Project.

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