Schistosomiasis is a tropical neglected disease caused by the infection of Schistosoma spp parasite. The disease is endemic in contexts of poverty since mainly spread due to poor hygiene and sanitation conditions. Mass drug administration (MDA) of praziquantel is one of the main control measures against human schistosomiasis. Although pregnant women, infants and children under the age of 5 in high endemic areas should be considered for MDA, they are usually not treated without diagnosis. Diagnostic tools identifying infections at primary health care centre level could therefore help to integrate this vulnerable group into control programmes. freeBILy (Fast and reliable easy-to-use-diagnostics for eliminating Bilharzia in young children and mothers) is an international multi-centre consortium focused on improving schistosomiasis diagnostics. The BNITM is sponsor of the phase III randomized control trial in Madagascar. There the study aims to determine the effectiveness of a Test-Based-Schistosomiasis-Treatment strategy for pregnant women and their infants and children up until the age of 2.

Partners:

University of Fianarantsoa, University of Antananarivo, Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Merieux (CICM), University of Leiden,University of Tübingen, Center of Medical Research Lambaréné (CERMEL), IS-Global Barcelona

@BNITM Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja – Eva Lorenz - Anna Jäger

Funding:

European-Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP)

Duration:

February 2018 - December 2023