By Daniel Itai.
Ondangwa, Namibia (News Of The South) – Namibia is strengthening its surveillance on Guinea Worm Disease (GWD), following an outbreak of the contagious pathogen in Angola.
GWD is a parasitic disease that is transmitted through drinking stagnant water that has been contaminated with a tiny parasite infected flea. Once inside the body, the larvae mature into worms that grow up to a metre in length.
The parasite migrates through the victim’s subcutaneous tissues, causing severe pain, especially when it occurs in the joints. The worm eventually emerges from the feet in most of cases, causing an intensely painful oedema, a blister and an ulcer accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting.
When a person drinks contaminated water from ponds or shallow open wells, the cyclops is dissolved by the gastric acid of the stomach, and the larvae are released and migrate through the intestinal wall.
Seidu Korkor, a health specialist on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) eradication said, “the story of NTDs is one of great progress and remaining challenges. Since then, tremendous success stories have been received from around the world. If we are serious about universal health coverage, we must intensify our efforts and our commitment to control, eliminate or eradicate these diseases by 2020.
Populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors as well as domestic animals and livestock, are the worst affected.
The regional NTDs programme is targeting to eradicate two diseases, Guinea Worm Disease and Yaws, and to eliminate five other conditions which are, human African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, blinding trachoma and onchocerciasis.
We also want to advance the control of four other NTDs, buruli ulcer, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis.”
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