Microsoft Word 02Preface doc

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Schistosomiasis 
The health condition of people in two villages in the Kuware district was improved as 
a result of the pilot project for verifying the effectiveness of intensive treatment 
(consisting of mass-chemotherapy, safe water supply, control of vector snails, and 
health education) for Schistosomiasis control.  Some of the project activities have 
been handed over to an NGO, and safe water has been supplied to the village.  In 
addition, the urine ELISA method was developed and utilized in the field studies for 
schistosomiasis research.  However, this method was not disseminated to the MOH 
and other institutes due to cost issues.     
The integrated intervention methods for Schistosomiasis control were applied, such as 
mass-chemotherapy, safe water supply, environmental modification (control of the 
vector snails through cleaning plans for the rivers) and health education in the period 
1982 - 1993.  As a result, there was a significant decrease in the haematuria rate 
(indicator for the symptoms of Schistosomiasis) confirmed during the pilot studies, 
although a significant change in the prevalence rate was not observed.  The 
prevalence rate fluctuated between 20 and 47% in Mwachinga, and 18 to around 48% 
in Mtsangatamu, during the period of the pilot study.     
Research conducted in cooperation with JICA ended in 1996.    However, a Nagasaki 
University professor who was originally dispatched as a JICA expert under this project 
has continued his research into parasitic control using both of these two villages as part 
of a university study after the JICA programme ended.    Moreover, a clinic has been 
voluntarily set up in Mwachinga village by the Nagasaki University professor, which 
is being effectively utilized by the villagers. 
In Musangatam village, Plan International, an NGO, created a new water supply 
facility using the water resources developed by KEMRI, and it has continued to 
provide assistance to ensure that the villagers have access to safe water. 
Facilities developed under the pilot project are no longer in use, but due to the 
activities of Nagasaki University and the NGO, the activities for parasite control 
continue to be carried out in both villages.    Table 5.16 shows the facilities or inputs 
through JICA’s cooperation and their current state. 
 

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