Ogechukwu Aribodor: Research and action to tackle FGS in South-eastern Nigeria

You are invited to listen, learn, and share with Ogechukwu Aribodor and other colleagues from endemic countries who are taking action to prevent, diagnose, and treat FGS Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) has been described as one of the most neglected sexual and reproductive health issues in sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated 56 million women and girls infected. This is an excerpt from the Geneva Learning Foundation’s Special Event, in which practitioners shared first-hand their successes, lessons learned, and challenges. Learn more https://www.learning.foundation/fgs Ogechukwu Aribodor’s action plan aims to reduce the burden of Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) in endemic communities of Anambra State, Nigeria, using behavioural change communication (BCC) and the provision of alternative safe water supply. Her host organisation is Nnamdi Azikiwe University, a Federal Government owned tertiary institution in Nigeria dedicated to teaching, research and community service. As an academic public health officer, she does not perform pelvic examinations. Following the preliminary investigation carried out by our research team with me as the Principal investigator (PI) in some communities in the South-eastern region where we established the primary evidence of FGS in a young girl, Ogechukwu was keen to assist young girls and women affected in these communities. Hence, when the opportunity for the FGS competency training was announced, she applied. The challenge Ogechukwu faced was how to prevent these young girls and women in endemic communities from accessing water bodies infested with the transmission stages of S. haematobium. She believes this is important because behavioral change and awareness creation for FGS alone cannot prevent and lead to possible elimination of FGS: “Provision of an alternative safe water supply that will be sustainable will help to tackle FGS from the roots. This will help to interrupt completely the transmission cycle of the infective stages of these parasites and also prevent re-infection.” Ogechukwu says that “the competency training really helped me to develop an action plan with specific deadlines to achieve my goal.”