“Expanded access of treatment for Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in Cameroon”
The activities to be conducted in Cameroon for Integrated Control Strategies Theme 2 (ICST2) is carried out by the team in Yaoundé, led by Professor Louis-Albert Tchuem-Tchuenté in collaboration with LSTM colleagues – Prof Russell Stothard.
AIM
The main aim of the project is to develop innovative strategies for expanded access of treatment and improved diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) in Cameroon.
OBJECTIVE
There are four over-arching objectives for this research project, each entailing field surveys with laboratory investigations.
1) To conduct targeted/baseline parasitological surveys of schistosomiasis and STH to describe infection & morbidity status, referencing local disease perceptions by patient interviews with qualitative methods, at selected locations to assess present and future PZQ/MBD treatment needs.
Focus will be placed on three key groups: Preschool-age children (PSAC), Out-of-school SAC (OoSAC), and Adults in attempt to highlight and define the inequity of the existing SCH & STH treatment gap.
2) To conduct one-year longitudinal cross-sectional studies, with 6-month follow-ups, in key transmission settings where expanded access to PZQ/MBD treatment is provided and/or WASH attempted.
Access to PZQ & MBD for schistosomiasis and STH control will be expanded by scaling-up of treatment in and beyond school-aged children. The study will investigate:
- Whether biannual treatment with PZQ/MBD treatment in SAC can be delivered effectively, achieving better treatment coverage, and associated with more rapid declines in infection (e.g. eggs in excreta) and disease (e.g. blood in urine).
- The need, feasibility and acceptability of extending PZQ/MBD treatment to the following groups which are not presently targeted within the National Control Programme: (i) Preschool-age children (PSAC), (ii) Out-of-school SAC (OoSAC), and (iii) Adults (including pregnant women).
- How WASH approaches can synergize, where possible, with other interventions to more quickly reduce environmental transmission and infection burdens.
The impact of biannual versus annual treatments, and expanded community versus school-based treatments in reducing transmission of schistosomiasis and STH will be determined.