By Health and Science Africa
The Ministry of Health in Lesotho, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has initiated steps to re-establish its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program for Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) through the annual administration of albendazole tablets to target both preschool-aged children (1–5 years) and school-aged children (6–15 years).
A statement from WHO Lesotho office said
this is geared towards addressing the severe impact of parasitic worm infections on children’s health, nutrition, and education.
To prepare for the implementation of the critical intervention, a three-and-a-half-day multi-sectoral workshop was held in Leribe District, focusing on the development and validation of a comprehensive operational manual to guide future MDA implementation.
WHO reports that over 1.5 billion people globally are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH), making it one of the most widespread infections.
The parasitic disease is particularly prevalent in low-income and tropical regions. The AFRO region faces the highest burden, with more than 800 million people at risk.
Around 290 million school-age children in this region require preventive chemotherapy. All Saharan African countries are endemic for STH, underscoring the critical need for comprehensive health interventions.
The statement said Lesotho conducted its initial national STH mapping survey in 2015, which revealed an overall prevalence of 47.6%, with significant district level variations, some reaching as high as 99%.
This led to the launch of an MDA program in 2017, which, however, ceased operations after 2019 due to various challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving at-risk populations vulnerable once more. Population at risk in Lesotho is around 550,000.
STH infections are classified by the WHO as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), characterized by their prevalence in populations with limited access to adequate sanitation and healthcare facilities. These parasitic infections contribute to adverse health outcomes, particularly among children, impacting their nutrition, growth, and educational performance.
A multi-sectoral approach is key to effectively and sustainably controlling and eventually eliminating STH infections in Lesotho and other high-burden areas. It involves not just the health sector (like mass drug administration), but also other sectors that address the main causes of transmission, such as poor sanitation, unsafe water, and poor hygiene.
Dr. Dhruv Pandey, the Technical Expert on Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, WHO Multi county Assignment Team for the Southern Africa Hub countries, said that the discontinuation of MDA since 2019 could have a detrimental impact on both public health and socioeconomic development in Lesotho. He stressed the need for renewed political and intersectoral commitment.
Pandey said, “It is essential for the Ministry of Health to prioritize the resumption of MDA by initially integrating it within existing health programmes, such as immunization and HPV campaigns. STH is not merely a health issue; it is a social issue, influenced by multiple social determinants and should be addressed through coordinated action.”
Ntsoaki Mamoeketsi Mokete, National Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Focal Person at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the significance of the newly developed operational manual
. “Developing the operational manual is an important step towards controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases in Lesotho,” Mokete said.
She outlined future plans, including five years of continuous MDA followed by an impact assessment survey to determine the status of STHs in the country.
Mpheng Molapo, Coordinator of the Learner Care and Welfare Support Unit at MoET, underlined the direct benefits for students. “The Ministry of Education strongly supports the implementation of the (MDA) for (STH) as a key public health intervention with direct impact on learner well-being, educational performance, and school attendance,” Molapo stated.
Dr. Pabolo Nonyane, District Veterinary Officer and National Focal Point for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, underscored the importance of the MDA to the agricultural sector.
She said, “This initiative is vital for achieving sustainable food and nutrition security, particularly within our high-risk agricultural communities. Farmers and herd boys are uniquely vulnerable due to their exposure to contaminated soil. By using this operational manual to protect their health, we preserve the human capital essential for our agricultural future. This effort truly reflects the ‘One Health’ principle, ensuring that our work on STH contributes not only to public health but also directly to Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.”
The workshop convened a multidisciplinary team, including represen