Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of communicable diseases that occur in tropical and subtropical environments.  Very commonly, NTDs tend to develop in chronic manifestations thing that make their management complex. Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a common chronic evolution of schistosomiasis, one of the most common NTDs, caused by the presence of S. haematobium eggs in genital tissues. The diagnosis is mostly done by visual inspection of characteristic lesions (sandy patches) on the cervix and vaginal wall. These techniques are normally offered at hospital level, but the implementation of colposcopy at primary health care level is possible if the infrastructures allow and if appropriated training to the practitioners is offered. Current laboratory techniques are inadequate for the diagnosis of the disease. Among the affected countries, Madagascar is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of schistosomiasis worldwide. FIRM-UP (Female Genital Schistosomiasis in rural Madagascar: improving community understanding and promoting integration into primary health care services - FIRM-UP) aims at investigating the operational gaps laying behind FGS in order to identify solutions for a better management of it.

Partners:

University of Fianarantsoa, University of Antananarivo, Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM), University of Mahajanga, University of Düsseldorf, Klinikum Esslingen, IS-Global Barcelona

@BNITM Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja – Eva Lorenz

Funding:

Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (CORNTD)

Duration:

April 2020 - December 2021 - July 2024