Children in Nyazura are facing serious educational challenges due to rising cases of bilharzia and intestinal worms, which are affecting their health. These neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are causing many students to miss school and drop out, creating a significant problem for the community.
Local educators and health workers are calling for more awareness and support to tackle this health crisis and improve educational outcomes for children in the area.
Bonnie Tokoyo, Acting Deputy Head of St. Peter’s Tokoyo Primary School, expressed concern about how these diseases are harming students’ ability to learn. He said, “Bilharzia and other neglected tropical diseases affect learners in many ways.
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For effective learning, the children have to be healthy.” He believes that healthier students will perform better academically.
To help with this issue, St. Peter’s Tokoyo Primary School has started a feeding program to ensure students receive the nutrition needed for their treatments.
Rebecca Mwabvu, General Manager of Health at Higherlife Foundation, spoke about the long-term effects of NTDs on children’s development, noting that these diseases can lead to lasting disabilities that impair growth and cognitive skills. She praised the partnership between the Higherlife Foundation and the government, which has been working since 2013 to eliminate bilharzia and soil-transmitted infections through specific health initiatives.
