"Surviving Schis"
Female genital schistosomiasis is a devastating disease that is estimated to affect millions of women and girls across Africa. Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is caused by water-borne parasitic worms that infect people as they fetch water, bathe and wash clothes. The disease is often misdiagnosed as a sexually transmitted infection, meaning that women can be subjected to isolation and even gender-based violence.
For Sightsavers UK, read report here.
https://www.sightsavers.org/blogs/2024/04/collaboration-is-important-in-research/
https://www.africa.com/women-dont-get-it-when-it-comes-to-healthcare-the-gender-gap-is-an-abyss/
25/04/2023. Community women fetching water at the stream in Ipetu Lamudifa, Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria. Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia or ‘snail fever’, is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites released by freshwater snails. Infection occurs when the parasite’s larvae penetrate a person’s skin during contact with infested water, often through fishing, swimming, bathing and washing clothes. FGS is a complication of untreated schistosomiasis.
25/04/2023. Risikatu Oyeniyi fetchs water at the stream in Ipetu Lamudifa, Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria. Due to the unavailability of clean water source in the co munity, more than 90% of women and children source for water in this stream, the water is used for all household needs including drinking, cooking, washing, etc. This contact is said to be the major cause of FGS in this community.
25/04/2023. Portrait of Risikatu Oyeniyi at the farm in Ipetu Lamudifa, Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria. Risikatu relocated to Ondo state due to the booming farming business, she farm and sells kolanuts.
25/04/2023. Risikatu pours out unclean sediments from the water she fetched at her home in Ipetu Lamudifa, Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria.
26/04/2023. Victoria Omo-osedabi pours out kolanuts harvest in her home at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria. Victoria is also famer and a enterpreneur.
26/04/2023. Mr Sallahu Fatai; a community member who volunteered to be a town crier for the FGS project at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
26/04/2023. Nurse Abigeal assists gynaecologist as she arrives Primary Health Clinic at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
26/04/2023. Victoria Omo-osedabi in a counselling section with Mrs Omotosho Omowunmi at Primary Health Clinic at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
24/04/2023. Community women of Irele waiting at Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Community women waiting at Primary Health Clinic at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
24/04/2023. Urine test samples at Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria.
24/04/2023. Mr Jacob Solomon, a laboratory scientist and microscopist from the Ministry of Health examines the urine samples using a microscope at Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria. This test is one of the important stage to know FGS status .
24/04/2023. Dr Olubunmi Babatola checks through the test results at Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria. “FGS in this community is enormous, you can imagine screening 29 patients and getting 21 positive cases” says Dr Olubunmi
24/04/2023. Portrait of Dr Olubunmi Babatola, a gynaecoloigist who conducted colposcopy test for the communitry women in Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria. She has been working as a gynaecologist for 2years, at Mother and Child Akure. “I picked a lot of interest in FGS because it is not a regular occurrence, and being involved in this project will give me an opportunity to see a lot of clinical features associate with FGS.” says Dr Olubunmi.
24/04/2023. Portrait of Dr Olubunmi Babatola, a gynaecoloigist who conducted colposcopy test for the communitry women in Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria. She has been working as a gynaecologist for 2years, at Mother and Child Akure. “I picked a lot of interest in FGS because it is not a regular occurrence, and being involved in this project will give me an opportunity to see a lot of clinical features associate with FGS.” says Dr Olubunmi.
26/04/2023. Nurse Adesugba Abigeal, checks through Praziquantel dosage height scale at Primary Health Clinic Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
26/04/2023. Praziquantel, FGS drug given at Primary Health Clinic at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria. Praziquantel is used to treat schistosoma (infection with a type of worm that lives in the bloodstream) and liver fluke (infection with a type of worm that lives in or near the liver).
26/04/2023. Omosefe Osinoiki; sightsavers research associate and FGS project lead on fieldwork at Idiroko, Ile-oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria.
24/04/2023. Primary Health Post at Irele Local Government area in Ondo State, Nigeria.