The UK has invested in a £3million partnership to fight a little-known disease putting women and girls at risk of HIV, cancer and infertility. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is spread by a waterborne parasitic worm. Infection can cause severe symptoms including vaginal discharge, blood in urine, and abdominal and pelvic pain.
Estimates suggest up to 80% of women and girls are affected by the disease in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Minister for Development Jenny Chapman said: “Millions of women and girls across sub-Saharan Africa are suffering with a condition that causes immense pain: bleeding, burning, scarring and swelling. This disease is called female genital schistosomiasis and is caused simply by bathing or washing clothes in fresh water which contains tiny parasites.
“It can increase susceptibility to HIV and cause complications in pregnancy or infertility. Communities shun those affected and they can face violence from their partners because symptoms can be mistaken for a sexually transmitted disease.“
Although you cannot get schistosomiasis from UK waters, people have been diagnosed here after travelling abroad.
The parasite that causes FGS is found in snails in fresh water. Once they have penetrated a person’s skin, they lay eggs that make their way into the bladder and female genital tract.
FGS causes open sores, inflammation and bleeding, which can increase the risk of other viruses entering the body. Women and girls suffering from the disease are up to three times more likely to contract HIV.
Symptoms including pelvic pain and bleeding after sex can resemble those of STIs, leading to women being accused of cheating on their partners or being sexually active before marriage. This can put them at risk of stigma and social isolation.
Barriers to treatment include limited access to healthcare in remote communities, a lack of knowledge and equipment, and that mild symptoms are sometimes ignored.
The Government is investing in research to better understand the condition and improve prevention and treatment through a £3million partnership with the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD).
The funding — announced on World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day — will help to raise awareness of FGS in countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia.
The partnership will also seek new ways to deliver care in hard-to-reach rural communities and explore the use of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of FGS.
Ms Chapman added: “By backing new research, the UK is helping increase global understanding of this overlooked disease and others like it and discovering ways to combat it.
“We are solving global health challenges by investing in expertise and making every pound count for women and girls around the world.”
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