By Cyber Era NG Special Correspondent

A  leading science and technology company, Merck has announced the winners of its 2024 Bilharzia Storytelling Lab in Ethiopia. This innovative initiative aims to develop creative solutions in order to raise awareness about schistosomiasis and, in doing so, bring about behavioral change.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases and affects more than 240 million people worldwide. It is a chronic condition and is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). NTDs are poverty-related diseases with a very high economic and social impact. The disease, also known as bilharzia, is transmitted through skin exposure to parasites in water bodies and can result in serious health consequences. Schistosomiasis is endemic in Ethiopia and affects more than 15 million people.

“It is part of the national strategic plan of the Ministry of Health to control and eliminate schistosomiasis and other NTDs by 2030. We welcome Merck’s long-standing support of our national efforts through the large-scale provision of treatments for many years and additional initiatives like the Bilharzia Storytelling Lab,” said the National Neglected Tropical Disease Program Manager at the Ethiopian Ministry of Health Fikre Seife.

Merck is fully committed to the elimination of schistosomiasis. The company has adopted an integrated approach in close collaboration with partners worldwide, combining treatment, research and development, health education, and advocacy. The company provides up to 250 million tablets annually to WHO to treat schistosomiasis across sub-Saharan Africa. So far, Merck has donated two billion tablets, enabling around 800 million people to be treated.

“One of our three sustainability goals aims at improving the lives of one billion people until 2030. Our schistosomiasis elimination programme contributes to this goal substantially. As a family-owned business we think in generations rather than years which is why we committed ourselves to fight schistosomiasis until its elimination for good.” Says SVP & Head MEAR – Middle East, Africa, Turkey& Russia/CIS at Merck Ramsey Morad.

The Bilharzia Storytelling Lab run by Merck aims to increase disease-specific knowledge among risk groups and supports national efforts to combat NTDs with additional health education tools customized to the local context. From March 18 to 22, a group of Ethiopian storytellers came together to develop innovative educational solutions focusing on schistosomiasis. A board of judges selected the best solution, which was presented with an award of €10,000(US$10,827.80). A group that presented a multimedia participatory theatre creating awareness about bilharzia for young male adults working at sugar factories was selected as the winner. The team will now start working on the implementation of their project in collaboration with Merck.

“We have seen great pitches today and it wasn’t easy to pick only one. In the end, we decided on Team Buna because it is an innovative and locally applicable solution, which is also scalable to surrounding communities,” said  Head of the Merck Schistosomiasis Elimination Programme, Johannes Waltz, after the final pitches.