The use of Praziquantel MDA has been generally successful in eradicating bilharzia as a public health problem in children aged 5–14 years. Many biomedical and biological investigations on NTDs, particularly Bilharzia, have been conducted because its spectrum effect extends beyond child health to four other SDGs[1]. However, despite many successes, bilharzia hotspots of both persistent high transmission and morbidity remain. In some areas such as Hoima district, there are still increasing cases of Bilharzia among school-aged children at 83%. This failure to gain control of bilharzia in Hoima district has been attributed to low adherence to MDA by schoolchildren. 

Where MDA adherence among school children is the case, children’s experiences have diverged throughout time and space. To prevent local reinfections, infected non-adherers need to be treated as they create a reservoir of infection by continuing to carry the infection and releasing infective stages into the environment. This study hopes to get other experiences beyond what is stated above since more adherence data should be a priority as this will inform the real coverage being achieved in treatment areas. Therefore, it is critical to examine the experiences of school children affected by bilharzia and their adherence to treatment in Hoima district.

[1] The other impacted SDGs are: (1) No Poverty (4) Quality Education, (6) Clean Water and Sanitation,  (10) Reducing Inequality