College of Medicine and Health Sciences in collaboration with Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College, London and Evidence Action has recently conducted three-day training on Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil Transmitted Helminthes (STH) for supervisors and monitors. Click here to see the Pictures.

SCI that works with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and others is closely working with Ministry of Health and universities to eradicate both diseases. It provides technical and financial support like planning campaign, logistics for drugs, monitoring and evaluation; while Evidence Action builds capacity.
SCI’s Mike French speaking on Independent Monitoring, said, ‘‘In Ethiopia, children have SCH, worm infection that is transmitted to intestine and get circulated in blood vessels. In Sub-Saharan nations it gets transmitted through snails and child gets infected while playing.
It’s learnt that in Ethiopia, 300 endemic districts need treatment for 10 to 15 million children. Ministry of Health’s ambitious project to eradicate this menace has secured funding and soon remedial measures will be in place.
Soil Transmitted Helminthes causes diseases like hookworm, common worm infestation in the developing world and illness leads to anemia and malnutrition. It’s associated with waste-disposal, personal and environmental hygiene. To assess the enormity of SCH/STH prevalence, Collaborative Research and Training Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease (CRTC-NTD) across the nation has began surveying mass drug administration in 256 schools of different districts with WHO standard check-list, College Dean, Mr Behailu Merdikios said..
The team has interviewed parents, school authority and community member in all nine regions through random sampling. Soon collected data is going to be analyzed and in a dissemination workshop results will be discussed in AMU.
The accepted ‘Standard” will be conveyed to the Ministry of Health as it has assured to render necessary assistance in establishing a benchmark for apt drug administration. After the analysis, Government will also communicate with partners to address the causes, Behailu adds. 
This unique endeavor is said to be an opportunity for CRTC-NTD to showcase its capacity to handle national-level clinical analysis. In near future it’s likely to take up many health-related projects in association with WHO, international research institutions and funding partners.
In the training spanning three days, at the outset participants were sensitized on SCH/STH prevention and control program. Later comprehensive orientation on de-worming MDA guide, independent monitoring and qualitative survey was given. Birhan Mengistu from Ministry of Health and Kate McCracken of Evidence Action took sessions on Independent Monitoring etc.

(By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)