Background Namibia is now ready to begin mass drug administration of praziquantel and albendazole against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths, respectively. Although historical data identifies areas of transmission of these neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), there is a need to update epidemiological data. For this reason, Namibia adopted a new protocol for mapping of schistosomiasis and geohelminths, formally integrating rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for infections and morbidity. In this article, we explain the protocol in detail, and introduce the concept of ‘mapping resolution’, as well as present results and treatment recommendations for northern Namibia. Methods/Findings/Interpretation This new protocol allowed a large sample to be surveyed (N = 17 896 children from 299 schools) at relatively low cost (7 USD per person mapped) and very quickly (28 working days). All children were analysed by RDTs, but only a sub-sample was also diagnosed by light microscopy. Leica 407 total station manual full version free software download.
Overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in the surveyed areas was 9.0%, highly associated with poorer access to potable water (OR = 1.5, P. Historical data indicates Namibia, particularly northern Namibia, as endemic for geohelminths and schistosomiasis, albeit to a lower extent than other areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. The National Ministry of Health and Social Services, with extensive backing from other governmental and non-governmental organizations, investigated the extent of the problem in preparation for deployment of a control programme. Using a cost-effective strategy, a new generation protocol was developed for mapping these important neglected tropical diseases, bolstering field-standard microscopy results with those from commercially available rapid diagnostic tests. The protocol used increased the mapping coverage (one in every four schools mapped) with minimal added cost. Results from our surveys, which included 17 896 school-going children (3–19 years of age), identified hotspots of transmission for schistosomiasis and geohelminths, particularly hookworm infection, and allowed the recommendation of constituency- and region- specific treatment regimens, as well as improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene. Furthermore, we identified high levels of intestinal morbidity, believed to be associated with hookworm and Hymenolepis nana infections, and lower levels of urogenital pathology, associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection.
A cost-effectiveness analysis is also presented in addition to reporting the diagnostic accuracy of the rapid diagnostic tests employed. Introduction Namibia has recently established a national programme for the integrated control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with support from The END Fund.
The programme's first objective was to gather detailed information on the prevalence and distribution (mapping) of schistosomiasis (both intestinal and urogenital) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Although other NTDs are endemic in Namibia, of the five eligible for preventive chemotherapy (PCT), only schistosomiasis and STH infections are believed to be prevalent []. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis have never been identified at the community- or health facility-level [,], and for trachoma, although indicated by predictive mapping [,], no epidemiological confirmation has been reported []. According to WHO NTD maps, Namibia is indicated to have a prevalence of schistosomiasis below 10% []. Historical data from the northern regions report heterogeneity in infection distribution with high transmission areas reportedly reaching 95% prevalence [,–]. The presence of both Schistosoma haematobium and S.
Mansoni in Namibia has been confirmed with S. Mansoni distribution confined to the Kavango and Kwando rivers due to lack of Biomphalaria spp.
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Snails in any other areas []. According to historical data, all three major STH infections (hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris) have been confirmed in northern Namibia, with hookworm reported as dominant [,,–].
Ascaris and Trichuris infections are largely absent with levels usually below 1% (with few exceptions among the San people) due to the arid climatic conditions [] and behavioural factors that exist among sparse host populations [] (reviewed by []). Although there is significant historical data indicating the presence of schistosomiasis and STHs in Namibia, no large-scale systematic study capable of guiding a drug administration campaign has been conducted in the past two decades. Furthermore, for the past 17 years, deworming tablets (albendazole or mebendazole) have been regularly distributed to children during national immunization days plus (polio, vitamin A and deworming) [], which means prevalence levels have likely changed. Therefore, a new integrated rapid mapping protocol was developed to define areas that required different interventions, to estimate drug requirements, to target mass drug administration (MDA) of PCT to at-risk populations, to select appropriate control measures and to determine frequency of interventions.