Ministry offers Sh100,000 reward in hunt for Guinea worm disease
Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. He on August 26, 2015 offered a Sh100,000 reward to any person who would find guinea worm disease in Kenya and report to the ministry. FILE PHOTO | GERALD ANDERSON |
What you need to know:
According to statistics from WHO, only five cases were reported globally between January and May 2015 compared to 17 cases in 2014.
The agency also states that against 20 endemic countries in 1994, only four are still grappling with the disease (Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan).
Guinea worm disease is categorised among 17 other neglected diseases identified by the World Health Organisation.
The disease is transmitted exclusively by drinking stagnant water that is contaminated with tiny water fleas that carry infective guinea-worm larvae.
The government is offering a Sh100,000 cash reward to persons who will report any cases of guinea worm disease.
Health secretary James Macharia on Wednesday said the reward would be given to anyone who would find and report a case of the disease.
The offer is part of a Sh22 million campaign launched by the Ministry of Health to create awareness about the disease as well as collect data that will be presented to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for disease clearance certification.
“We are now conducting a three-month communication campaign to collect data that we previously did not have. This data will enable us get the declaration that we are a guinea worm-free country,” said Mr Macharia.
3 COUNTIES AT RISK
According to the health officials in charge of neglected tropical diseases, Kenya is the only country in East Africa that has not received the WHO certification on the disease.
In a bid to receive certification by 2016, the ministry has launched a countrywide campaign 'Looking for the Last Guinea Worm’, which will focus on Turkana, West Pokot and Trans-Nzoia counties.
The three regions border South Sudan and Ethiopia that have not yet eradicated the disease.
“People living in Turkana and its neighbouring countries are at risk of contracting the disease due to influx of refugees from South Sudan to Kakuma camp,” said Prof Njeri Wamai, who chairs the disease’ eradication committee.
The last reported case of the disease was in 2005.
“The target result is that over 70 per cent of people in the formerly endemic regions and 50 per cent in other parts of the country be aware of the disease,” added Mr Macharia.
SYMPTOMS
If successfully eradicated, the Guinea worm disease will be the second disease after smallpox to be globally eradicated.
A similar strategy (money incentives) was used in South Sudan last year and in Ethiopia in 2014.
Health officials have, however, warned that before reporting any suspected case of the disease, people should be educated on outstanding symptoms to look out for to avoid creating unnecessary panic.
There have been reports of suspicions about the disease in Turkana and Kwangware (Nairobi) but the health officials said tests proved that they were rumours.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign the head of the vector borne disease unit Dr Tatu Kamau said the public should look out for symptoms like blisters on the body of the affected.
STAGNANT WATER
“The worm can only be detected after one year when blisters spontaneously form on the body, accompanied by itchy and painful sensations,” explained Dr Kamau.
According to statistics from WHO, only five cases were reported globally between January and May 2015 compared to 17 cases in 2014.
The agency also states that against 20 endemic countries in 1994, only four are still grappling with the disease (Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan).
Guinea worm disease is categorised among 17 other neglected diseases identified by the World Health Organisation.
The disease is transmitted exclusively by drinking stagnant water that is contaminated with tiny water fleas that carry infective guinea-worm larvae.
Inside the body, the larvae matures into worms, growing up to one metre in length.
