FemalegenitalbilharziaheadacheforZim
ZIMBABWE is still grappling with Female Genital Schistosomiasis, a new form of bilharzia affecting women only amid reports that more than 40 percent of rural women in the country are infected.
The disease was first discovered in 2014 following a research which was conducted by Professor Eyrun Kjetland, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban South Africa.
According to statistics from the first community-based report on the effect of genital schistosoma-haenatobium infection on female fertility by Prof Kjetland 40 percent of women are either suffering or have suffered from the disease.
Female Genital Schistosomiasis is a form of bilharzia that affects female genitals and according to the research it has been associated with cancer in women, infertility and ectopic pregnancies.
It has also been associated with increased risk of acquiring HIV in women and is usually confused with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) due to similarity of symptoms.
Zimbabwe is incapacitated to deal with Female Genital Bilharzia and most doctors, nurses and other health practitioners in the country are failing to diagnose and recognise the disease due to lack of knowledge and limited resources. Government Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Velda Mushangwe, who is based at Gweru Provincial Hospital said there were no resources for the training of nurses, doctors and other health practitioners on the disease.
Dr Mushangwe was part of the African doctors and researchers who attended a conference on Pocket Atlas Workshop for Female Genital Bilharzia organised by World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2014.
“Since 2014 we are still waiting for the Ministry (of Heath and Child Care) to avail funds so that we will be able to educate health practitioners on how to diagnose the disease and treat it. We are having a meeting soon and after that we will be able to map the way forward,” she said.
Dr Mushangwe said the disease was one of the neglected tropical diseases and was highly prevalent in Africa.
“If adequate resources are made available we would be able deal with the disease. The process of diagnosing cervical cancer is the same way of testing for Female Genital Schistosomiasis. Other countries like South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar have already started their awareness campaigns and have also started dealing with the disease,” she said.
Female Genital Bilharzia is caused by microscopic Bilharzia parasites that live in fresh water and can penetrate the skin upon contact.
No pain is felt and the patients are unaware of this. Swimming or doing laundry in infested rivers, lakes and lagoons pose a high risk.
The parasites can stay in the body for over 30 years and cause great damage. Research shows that bilharzia affects both genders and all ages. Children are particularly susceptible to the disease. The disease is affecting millions of individuals living in endemic areas.