REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government, through the Ministry of National Development Planning and Ministry of Health, has launched a schistosomiasis eradication roadmap program that will guide efforts to eliminate the disease.

"The Schistosomiasis Eradication Roadmap 2018-2025 is launched to increase the commitment of all stakeholders at the central and regional levels to support efforts to eradicate schistosomiasis in Indonesia," Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Planning Agency Bambang Brodjonegoro stated here on Wednesday.

Schistosomiasis, known locally as "demam keong or fever of conch," is a disease caused by worms called schistosoma leading to symptoms of enlarged liver and spleen that can be fatal if proper treatment is not administered.

The Schistosomiasis Eradication Roadmap for the 2018-2025 period is intended to guide the program and budget provision of each ministry-related sector for eradicating the fever at endemic sites.

Funding to eradicate schistosomiasis is sourced from the state, provincial, and district budgets, as well as from village funds and development partners.

Schistosomiasis is rampant in Indonesia in the districts of Poso and Sigi and in 28 villages in Central Sulawesi Province.

The case of "snail fever" in humans in the region is only 0.8 percent of the population. However, snails and livestock are still the carriers of schistosomiasis and can pass on the disease to humans.

Infection rates in snails and livestock can reach 1.22-10.53 percent and 5.56-40 percent, respectively.

In addition, worms that cause schistosomiasis are commonly found in abandoned agricultural land and places with poor access to sanitation and clean water facilities.

Hence, a roadmap to eradicate schistosomiasis involves coordination between the central and local governments as well as cross-sectoral ministries.

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