AFRICA: water4

In the village of Kwa-al, located in central Nigeria, 36% of the children tested positive for Schistosomiasis. The Carter Center estimates that 200 million people in 74 different countries are infected with Schistosomiasis. It is a parasite transmitted by snails living in slow moving water and usually affects school age children. The parasite is absorbed through the skin when exposed to contaminated water and can cause poor growth and development, bladder dysfunction and kidney disease. Schistosomiasis can be treated with a single dose of the drug Praziquantel. Here children who had just received a dose of Praziquantel in an effort to control the parasite are again swimming in contaminated water.

In the village of Kwa-al, located in central Nigeria, 36% of the children tested positive for Schistosomiasis. The Carter Center estimates that 200 million people in 74 different countries are infected with Schistosomiasis. It is a parasite transmitted by snails living in slow moving water and usually affects school age children. The parasite is absorbed through the skin when exposed to contaminated water and can cause poor growth and development, bladder dysfunction and kidney disease. Schistosomiasis can be treated with a single dose of the drug Praziquantel. Here children who had just received a dose of Praziquantel in an effort to control the parasite are again swimming in contaminated water.