Sudan Doctors

In  epidemiological surveys conducted by the ministry it has been found that  the disease is spreads (urinary and intestinal types) in all states of Sudan, excepting the Red Sea State, at rates ranging from 10 - 90%,and higher rates are reported for  the Northern States , Central, Eastern Kurdofan regions and especially in agricultural projects for sugar; says Surveys conducted between 2003 and 2007.

The incidence of the disease in the Asalaiah district is 80%, that for Kenanah project and Aljunied Sugar project was found to be 60%, The infection rate for New Halfa was 50% and for Sinnar was37% .

Dr. Kamal Abdul Gadir  the Undersecretary of the Federal Ministry of Health pledged in the media to combat schistosomiasis in states of high infection rates by providing the necessary budgets to reduce the spread of the disease  and intensify campaigns for free treatment of infected individuals. This is in an effort by his ministry plans to reduce the spread of the disease to less than 10%



The deputy director of the national program to combat schistosomiasis, Dr. Jibril Naman, has approved the high rates of infection in Khartoum state to 5%. Assuring the provision of 6 million tablets for preventive measures granted by support of the Presidency. This led to reducing the incidence of infection.

He expressed fears of the spread of the disease and epidemics among children  dealings with direct water, agriculture, irrigation and  describing the case of Sudan as representing the depth of the problems of epidemics in Africa, which have reached the incidence of 90%(in some places).

Dr. Naman attributed  the spread of the disease epidemics in Sudan to the increasing number of irrigated agricultural projects. Jibril called on the State to speed up legislations and law imposing strict financial charges on those projects to reduce  the spread of the disease, pointing out that the problem of bilharzia in the history of Sudan goes back  to the construction of a reservoir Sinnar in 1924 and the consequent irrigation by flooding of Algazira where  two million acres are  cultivated, creating a fertile environment for the growth of parent mediator (host snails) for the parasite , the influx of workers from affected areas and lack of attention to the consequent  problem , thus resulting in the emergence of high incidents of the disease. At the beginning of nineties of the twentieth century an epidemic of shistosomiasis was reported and fighting measures were restricted to moluscicidal treatment in canals.

In the year in 1980, the Blue Nile Health Project was initiated and lasted for ten years where it was able to reduce the prevalence rate in algezira and in reducing rates from 54.3% to 6% but the suspension of the project in 1990 led to a rise again in all states of Sudan except the Red Sea, which is upto dates have no mentionable incidents of infection.



A Deputy Administrator on surveys conducted recently in a number of localities States showed a difference in infection rates, amounted to 5% in Khartoum and Kosti to 43% , 37% Fao, Khashmel Girba 20.6% and 18.9% in Atbara river. he pointed out that schistosomiasis and intestinal worms are one of the most important diseases causing hindering social and economic growth in the world. There are an estimated 200 million people carrying parasites in their bodies 300 thousand of them suffer from severe symptoms that lead to chronic health problems.

Mr. Jibril, reiterated the main aim of the project to combat schistosomiasis and control the spread of the disease to the degree at which does not represent a real health problem in Sudan, In an attempt to eradicate it they will reduce the rate of control in the first phase to less than 10% by the year in 2013 and intestinal worms to less than 1%,. According to the strategies community group therapy using the dugs (Albindazol and Praziquantel).based epidemiological surveys conducted amid a sample of students at the basic education level, they will start , carry out campaigns to raise health awareness among citizens and to combat parent mediator »snails« using appropriate means They will avail the provision of potable water , proper disposal of human waste, and building local capacity to ensure sustain what is achievable; pointing out that this will be only through political and material support by the state.

Jibril said Bilharzia disease affects the rural communities that depend  particularly on agriculture and herding, fishing. Symptoms caused by infection by schistosomiasis is not by worms but the amount of eggs produced by worms, because half the eggs produced by the worms come with feces and the other half remains in the blood vessels and distribute in other body tissues, causing inflammation and obstruction or recurrent chronic infections that can lead to anemia , damage to the liver and intestine, lung, kidney and even causing urinary bladder cancer and leukaemia. If the infection is light it may present no symptoms,He enumerated symptoms of the urinary disease as pain in micturition,lower abdomen pain, haematurea and general weakness. In intestinal bilharsiasis the symptoms are light fever, abdominal pain, mucous-bloody diarrhea with loss of appetite, general weakness and later hepato-spleenomegaly.

Translated by Haitham Mekkawi M.D. from (Al Intibaha) daily, Sunday 26July 2008