Small grants scheme research and epidemiological situation

Schistosomiasis is one of the major communicable diseases of public health and socio-economic importance in the developing world. Direct mortality is relatively low, but the disease burden is high in terms of chronic pathology and disability. Urinary schistosomiasis caused by S. haematobium occurs in 10 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Intestinal schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni is found in Egypt, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.

During the past 20 years, schistosomiasis was eliminated in Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon and Tunisia. Mortality , morbidity and transmission of the disease were greatly reduced in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Syrian Arab Republic. Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis infections remain a major public health problem in Sudan, Yemen and some areas of Somalia. 8 million people are infected by schistosomiasis in Sudan (5 million) and Yemen (3 million).

Research in small grants scheme: Schistosomiasis has been a research topic in 7 out of the 12 rounds of the small grants scheme. A total of 28 projects were implemented mainly in Egypt (42.9%), Yemen (21.4%), and Sudan (14.3%).