Health expert raises alarm over gynecological illnesses
A Public Health Consultant and Lecturer with the Gombe State University (GSU) Dr Ibrahim Rabi’u has raised alarm over the increasing rate of Female Genital Schistosomiasis disease.
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes, the urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stool, or blood in the urine.
Dr Rabi’u stated this at the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bauchi State Chapter.
Dr Rabi’u said the public health issue needs the attention of government at all levels to come up with strategy towards addressing it.
Dr Rabi’u who presented a paper titled “Female Genital Schistosomiasis: A Threat to Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health” said the disease causes infertility, virginal discharge, cervical infection among other problems.
He said Nigeria was ranked the first in schistosomiasis burden globally with twenty nine million incidence cases across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT have reported confirmed cases of Schistosomiasis.
According to him, integrated epidemiological mapping conducted in 708 LGAs in 32 States and the FCT, with 603 LGAs endemic for Schistosomiasis, achieved 57% mass treatment coverage for Schistosomiasis on school-age children receiving treatment across 26 States and the FCT.
He called for intensive awareness creation and sensitisation on the need for women to ensure personal and menstrual hygiene, avoid indiscriminate defecation as key in preventing women and girls from contracting the Female Genital Schistosomiasis.
Reporting by Murtala Muhammad, editing by Daniel Adejo
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