Ultrasound Training for the Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis-specific Morbidity

Reinforcing the technical capabilities in country.

Reinforcing the technical capabilities in country is one of the major goals of the NTD Control programme. Hence training on ultrasonography and schistosomiasis-specific morbidities was organised by the NTD Control programme, with the support of SCI, in Bujumbura, Burundi, from 07 to 16 April 2008.

Indeed, S. mansoni infections induce very specific lesions to various organs, such as the liver and the spleen and these lesions can be directly examined and quantified/measured by ultrasonography. The availability of portable ultrasound machines allows schistosomiasis control teams to test individuals in the field, thereby collecting data on a very important indicator of the impact of the NTD control programme on schistosomiasis in particular.

In Burundi, the training was conducted by Professor Adama Keita, a highly experienced ultrasonographer who already works with SCI in Mali. Professor Keita followed a programme and teaching methods largely inspired by the World Health Organisation guidelines on ultrasound training (Technical Report n.875) and by the Report on the Niamey 1996 Workshop on schistosomiasis morbidity. Four general practitioners were taken through the basics of ultrasonography and then the specificities linked to S. mansoni morbidity, over two days. ImageDuring the third day, the trainees applied their newly acquired knowledge by examining volunteers, at the Hôpital Prince Régent Charles, in the capital city Bujumbura. Finally, the rest of the training was spent in the field, examining 60 adults, aged 15 to 25 years-old, in 9 sentinel sites, in the provinces of Cibitoke, Bubanza, Bujumbura Rural, Makamba and Bururi. The data collected is currently being analysed.