Second Follow-Up Survey and Health Education Completed

Delivery of the full treatment coverage of drugs to school aged children was completed in 2005 in Burkina Faso

Delivery of the full treatment coverage of drugs to school aged children was completed in 2005 in Burkina Faso, and the 2nd follow up survey has now been completed to evaluate the effect of the programme in the selected cohorts. This was carried out by the PNLSc evaluation team during early 2006. Dr Yaobi Zhang (SCI Field Coordinator) joined the survey teams in two schools in Sud-Ouest region to observe the evaluation procedures. Urine and stool samples collected from children in the cohorts were examined by trained technicians for their schistosome and soil-transmitted helminth infections. Post treatment haemoglobin levels were also measured.

During the survey, the opportunity was taken to promote the programme and health education on schistosomiasis by selected health education workers was also carried out. The activities included a film show to children and teachers across the schools and a post-show question and answer session with SCI T-shirts as the prize to those who answered questions correctly (right). The film show was very well received by children and they were actively engaged in the question and answer session (Below).