SCHISTOSOMIASIS CONTROL PROGRAM

Vision

Schistosomiasis-Free Philippines

Mission

Synchronized and harmonized public and private stakeholders’ efforts in the elimination of
schistosomiasis in the Philippines

Objectives

Interruption of transmission of Schistosomiasis Infection by 2025.

1. All high endemic barangays will reach the target of criteria for Morbidity/Infection
Control (<5% prevalence of heavy intensity infection for 5 years).
2. All moderate endemic barangays will reach the target of criteria of Transmission Control
(Elimination as a Public Health Problem with <1% prevalence of heavy intensity
infection for 5 years).
3. All low endemic barangays will reach the target criteria of Transmission Interruption (no
local infection in man and animals, no infection in snail for 5 years).

Program Components

Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms called trematodes or
blood flukes. It is endemic in the Philippines affecting 1,599 barangays (villages), in 189
municipalities (towns) and 15 cities, in 28 endemic provinces, in 12 regions. The total population
at risk is approximately 12 million with 2.5 million individuals directly exposed to the disease. It
is transmitted through contact with fresh water infested with the cercarial schistosome of the
parasite that penetrates human skin. Given the magnitude of the problem of schistosomiasis in
the country, the Department of Health (DOH) strengthened the Schistosomiasis Control and
Elimination Program by adopting a multi- pronged multi-stakeholders’ approach and fueling
additional funding.

1. Preventive Chemotherapy
2. Intensified Case Management
3. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
4. Veterinary Public Health and the Promotion of Animal Health under One Health
Approach
5. Effective Intermediate Host Control and Surveillance
Partner Institutions

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, Save the Children, Plan International, WHO,
DA, DepEd, DILG, NIA, Academe, LGUs

Policies and Laws

-Schistosomiasis Clinical Practice Guidelines

-DM 2016-0212
-AO 2009-0013
-AO 2007-0015

Strategies, Action Points and Timeline

1. Preventive Chemotherapy through Mass Drug Administration

2. Intensified Case Management
3. Promotion of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health under One Health Approach
4. Effective Intermediate Host Control and Surveillance
5. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Program Accomplishments/Status

1. Formulation and development of the strategic plan to cut transmission of schistosomiasis

infection in the Philippines, 2018-2025
2. Demonstration project for the control of animal schistosomiasis and promotion of animal
health in Northern Samar
3. Updating of endemic maps on snail transmission sites in the Philippines
4. Establishment of the Laboratory Network for NTDs addresses by preventive
chemotherapy
5. Capability building of LGU partners on the Coverage Supervision Tool (CST) to monitor
and improved MDA coverage
6. Policy Development on surveillance and response of the snail vector of schistosomiasis
7. Policy development on updated mass drug administration under the preventive
chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis endemic barangays in the Philippines

Statistics

The National Prevalence is 4.68% (Focal Survey, 2017) with 435 (27%) Barangays having
prevalence of >5%, 357 (22%) Barangays with prevalence of > 1% but < 5% and 379 (24%)
with Prevalence of < 1%.