Sustainability in guinea worm eradication programme

Following an agreement between by Global 2000 of Carter Foundation and the Nigerian Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) was inaugurated in 1988 with the objective of eradicating guinea worm disease from Nigeria by 31 December, 1995. This paper examines strategies and structures established by NIGEP to ensure sustainability of eradication in the post-intervention period. It maintains that without maximum participation and empowerment of endemic communities towards guinea worm eradication, the sustainability of programme objectives in the post-intervention period may be jeopardized. South East Zone is focus for discussing this paper

Mobilizing women for rural health

Mobilizing women for rural healt

Mapping and prediction of schistosomiasis in Nigeria using compiled survey data and Bayesian geospatial modelling

Schistosomiasis prevalence data for Nigeria were extracted from peer-reviewed journals and reports, geo-referenced and collated in a nationwide geographical information system database for the generation of point prevalence maps. This exercise revealed that the disease is endemic in 35 of the country's 36 states, including the federal capital territory of Abuja, and found in 462 unique locations out of 833 different survey locations. Schistosoma haematobium, the predominant species in Nigeria, was found in 368 locations (79.8%) covering 31 states, S. mansoni in 78 (16.7%) locations in 22 states and S. intercalatum in 17 (3.7%) locations in two states. S. haematobium and S. mansoni were found to be co-endemic in 22 states, while co-occurrence of all three species was only seen in one state (Rivers). The average prevalence for each species at each survey location varied between 0.5% and 100% for S. haematobium, 0.2% to 87% for S. mansoni and 1% to 10% for S. intercalatum. The estimated prevalence of S. haematobium, based on Bayesian geospatial predictive modelling with a set of bioclimatic variables, ranged from 0.2% to 75% with a mean prevalence of 23% for the country as a whole (95% confidence interval (CI): 22.8-23.1%). The model suggests that the mean temperature, annual precipitation and soil acidity significantly influence the spatial distribution. Prevalence estimates, adjusted for school-aged children in 2010, showed that the prevalence is >10% in most states with a few reaching as high as 50%. It was estimated that 11.3 million children require praziquantel annually (95% CI: 10.3-12.2 million)

Bayesian geostatistical model-based estimates of soil-transmitted helminth infection in Nigeria, including annual deworming requirements

The acceleration of the control of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Nigeria, emphasizing preventive chemotherapy, has become imperative in light of the global fight against neglected tropical diseases. Predictive risk maps are an important tool to guide and support control activities.; STH infection prevalence data were obtained from surveys carried out in 2011 using standard protocols. Data were geo-referenced and collated in a nationwide, geographic information system database. Bayesian geostatistical models with remotely sensed environmental covariates and variable selection procedures were utilized to predict the spatial distribution of STH infections in Nigeria.; We found that hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura infections are endemic in 482 (86.8%), 305 (55.0%), and 55 (9.9%) locations, respectively. Hookworm and A. lumbricoides infection co-exist in 16 states, while the three species are co-endemic in 12 states. Overall, STHs are endemic in 20 of the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The observed prevalence at endemic locations ranged from 1.7% to 51.7% for hookworm, from 1.6% to 77.8% for A. lumbricoides, and from 1.0% to 25.5% for T. trichiura. Model-based predictions ranged from 0.7% to 51.0% for hookworm, from 0.1% to 82.6% for A. lumbricoides, and from 0.0% to 18.5% for T. trichiura. Our models suggest that day land surface temperature and dense vegetation are important predictors of the spatial distribution of STH infection in Nigeria. In 2011, a total of 5.7 million (13.8%) school-aged children were predicted to be infected with STHs in Nigeria. Mass treatment at the local government area level for annual or bi-annual treatment of the school-aged population in Nigeria in 2011, based on World Health Organization prevalence thresholds, were estimated at 10.2 million tablets.; The predictive risk maps and estimated deworming needs presented here will be helpful for escalating the control and spatial targeting of interventions against STH infections in Nigeria

Spatial distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Nigeria.

<p>A) Observed prevalence of <i>A</i>. <i>lumbricoides</i>. B) Observed prevalence of hookworm. C) Observed prevalence of <i>T</i>. <i>trichiura</i>. D) Predicted prevalence of <i>A</i>. <i>lumbricoides</i>. E) Predicted prevalence of hookworm. F) Predicted prevalence of <i>T</i>. <i>trichiura</i>.</p

Posterior estimates (median; 95% Bayesian credible interval) of the final geostatistical models for soil-transmitted helminth infections in Nigeria in 2011.

<p>*The effect of land surface temperature (LST) at night is depicted in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003740#pntd.0003740.s001" target="_blank">S1 Fig</a>.</p><p>Posterior estimates (median; 95% Bayesian credible interval) of the final geostatistical models for soil-transmitted helminth infections in Nigeria in 2011.</p

Median predicted prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection; number of school-aged children infected for Nigeria, stratified by state for 2011.

<p>**Calculated under the assumption of independence.</p><p>Median predicted prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection; number of school-aged children infected for Nigeria, stratified by state for 2011.</p