Journalism works

By Ruona Agbroko
June 19, 2009 09:59PMT



Exactly two weeks after a NEXT report on the impact of Schistosomiasis on children in Ijoun, a rural community in Ogun State, this NEXT reporter's phone rang at 22:19 hrs on Sunday June 14.
Seun Oyelade, Information Officer of the State's Ministry of Health (MoH) had sent a text message inviting NEXT to an "emergency meeting for Schistosomiasis Control Programme Coordinators" two days later. Though Abiodun Oduwole [pictured], the State's Commissioner for health said she had not seen the article, officials of the MoH, including its Chief Epidemiology Officer, Yomi Bamiselu repeatedly asked; "how did you people get to know?"
At the training programme, which was organised by the Ministry of Health, Oyin Sodipe, the agency's Director, Public Health care and Disease Control told the health workers; "it was the press that reported that we have ‘schisto' in Yewa-North (LGA); that should not be, we want to know everything about ‘schisto' or any communicable disease whatsoever in your communities from you." Some of the Schistosomiasis officers told NEXT they had been selected less than a week earlier. A circular handed out at the meeting stated that already, 11 endemic LGAs had been identified. These are; Yew South, Abeokuta North, Sagamu, Odeda, Ewekoro, Odogbolu, Remo North, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East, Ijebu North and Yewa-North (where Ijoun is situated). However, Mrs. Sodipe said that "though our local governments are few and far in-between, we will be delivering drugs and commencing intervention measures to even non-endemic areas immediately after this meeting."
‘We're not talking about Schistosomiasis alone'
Excerpts of interview with Abiodun Oduwole, Ogun State Commissioner for Health
What is the role of the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and do you have sufficient manpower at the local government level? The DSNOs are in the local governments. They are to let us know when we have outbreaks of the diseases. We're not talking about schistosomiasis alone. We have one DSNO and one Schistosomiasis officer per LGA. These officers have been provided with the drugs, This essentially includes copper sulphate which will treat the rivers and kill the snails which are the hosts of the disease, and the drugs that would treat the patients. We have about 428 primary health care centres; they're catering to our people in the rural areas.
What long-term measures are being put in place to check Schistosomiasis?
The government is sinking borehole in all the local government areas, through ORUWA (the Ogun State Rural Water Project). When they sink the borehole they involve the communities in their maintenance. Another thing is we have to educate our people, especially the children, not to wade in fast moving water where you have these snails breeding, getting rid of this disease is not a once and for all thing... it has to be on a continuous basis.

Do you see Schistosomiasis being fully eradicated in Ogun State?
Well if we treat the water on a regular basis, if we continue to provide potable water and educate the people, it's just a matter of time; we would eradicate a lot of other diseases, not just Schistosomiasis.

Please tell us more about the Epidemic Preparedness Fund?
An Epidemic Preparedness Fund has been approved by the governor so that when you have something like this, you can quickly mobilise from the fund to organise trainings, workshops, sensitize the people, go on air, and things like that... and you can take some of the officers to the rural areas because it is one thing to have a DSNO and a Schistosomiasis officer, this and that.
But another thing is to see the State Epidemiologist coming, or the Director of Primary Health Care coming, it lifts their spirits, it encourages our people that you are moving very near to the grassroot and that costs money.

What challenges, if any did you face in putting together this intervention plan?

We had to source the drugs (Praziquantel) and it's quite expensive, but then, because we already have the money, it wasn't a problem.


What would you like to tell Ogun State residents about this disease?
The people should use the potable water that the governor is putting up, it's not possible to have potable water at everybody's backyard but they could trek and get the water where it is sited. I would like to assure that though not everything can be done at once, all local government areas will be touched. They should take care of the children and counsel them not to wade in water. We also have a school Health programme in place. It's not only about treating diseases, its educating these children and it will be incorporated into the curriculum of schools so that these children are also aware of what is happening and you know children have a way of communicating with each other, it is the best way to stop the spreading of all communicable disease.