THE USAID GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT SCHISTOSOMIASIS RESEARCH-PROJECT (SRP)

Schistosomiasis is the major public health problem in rural Egypt, wit h almost six million Egyptians infected as at min 1996. lit 1983, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in rural Egypt was greater than 50%(1), but a ten-year campaign of diagnosis and treatment has reduced the pre valence and intensity of infection. Parallel to this campaign, the gov ernment of the USA has funded a research project to examine all aspect s of schistosomiasis with a view to improving the control strategy. As outlined here by Taha EI Khoby, Nabil Galal and Alan Fenwick, after a lmost ten years, the project's achievements include: assisting WHO in its attempts to develop a vaccine against schistosomiasis, developing a suspension formulation of praziquantel suitable for young children, and establishing a unit to monitor reports of resistance to praziquant el(2,3). In addition, a large epidemiological study has established th e extent of the problem in Egypt(4). Slow-release formulation of niclo samide(5), health education material for use on TV, dipstick diagnosti c tests(6), and evaluation of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool have als o been achieved(7-9). As the project closes, Egypt is left with an eff ective strategy for the control of schistosomiasis and several back-ti p tools for use in the event of development of resistance to praziquan tel. The Ministry of Health and Population has the basis of a Geograph ical Information System (GIS) unit and the country has a trained and e quipped scientific community capable of biomedical research, and almos t 100 scientific papers published on their work.