08 May 2025

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that Malawi is among 51 African countries at risk of Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), affecting about 250 million people worldwide.

WHO Country Representative to Malawi Dr Neema Kimambo revealed this in Salima on Friday, where the Malawi government launched a five-year preventive pilot initiative to be implemented in Dedza and Salima with support from the German government through GIZ.

Dr Kimambo said schistosomiasis has been neglected and is more prevalent in tropical countries such as Malawi among the people who live along lakeshore areas and swampy environments.

Some of the signs of the disease include genital pain during urination, during sexual intercourse and bloody urine among women and girls. If not treated, the disease can cause barrenness and miscarriage among women and girls in the reproductive age group.

Speaking at the official launch, Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Noah Freeman Chimpeni MP, who was the guest of honour at the function, said it is high time Malawians adhered to preventive measures as one way of combating further spread of the disease.

Lakeshore districts of Salima, Nkhotakota, Nkhatabay, Karonga, Rumphi and Mangochi are some of the areas where schistosomiasis is highly prevalent.