The Barombi crater lakes are renowned foci for schistosomiasis transmission and thus have been selected as study sites for the COUNTDOWN schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis-focused research.
The church played an invaluable role in community sensitisation, as well as opinion leaders – traditional leaders, quarter heads, church leaders, women leaders and youth leaders – who positively influenced community adherence. However,the group charged with the ultimate success of MDA were CDDs who worked enthusiastically and effortlessly to rid the community of the burden of schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.
In line with planned COUNTDOWN activities, mass treatment with praziquantel against schistosomiasis and mebendazole for intestinal worms took place in Barombo Kotto and Barombi Mbo communities.This 2 week activity consisted training of community drug distributors and sensitisation of opinion leaders which was facilitated by the Regional NTD Coordinator, SW , the District Medical Officer and Chief of Post at the Health Centre.
In addition to MDA, the health economic team carried out household surveys while the social scientists captured perceptions around control interventions via key informant interviews and focused group discussions with variety of community groups – women, elders, youth, farmers etc.
