Cleaning Fiadanana: Combating Tugiasis in Madagascar with biological
means
On of the health problem plaguing Fiadanana and many other rural villages in
Madagascar is Tugiasis; a skin disease spread by fleas ( Tunga
penetrans) For more medical information click
here . Complications from Tugiasis, especially in children
can be very debilitating, making it hard to walk, use their hands or swallow
food and can in severe cases be fatal.
In August 2006 Zahana invited a medical specialist in diseases transmitted
by insects to visit Fiadanana. His recommendation were:
- Sweep the village from all organic debris and
burn the resulting piles to eliminate the nesting grounds
for the flea.
- Keep the dust at bay, by spaying the dirt ground in
the dry season with water.
- Put the live stock in pens or fences.
- Finish the walls of the houses
with a smooth layer of white adobe clay inside and out to eliminate
nesting nooks and crannies for insects to hide.
- Spraying insecticides
are often recommended to curb the initial population of disease carrying
insects.
In an effort to improve the overall health of the village and address
problem of hygiene a major village clean up took place for two
days during his visit. The use of insecticides was not necessary,
due
to the diligent
cleaning, saving money and avoiding the exposure to sprayed toxins
in the village.
Discussing the task at hand of
getting rid of dust, organic matter and garbage in the village. (Foto:
Ramihantaniarivo 2006)
Giving and good example, the doctors are hands-on
in the cleaning effort The
Traditional Healer is one of the first ones with the broom
The garbage, mainly organic matter, is piled up
and burned.
The pig is enjoying its last minutes
of freedom, before it ends up in a fenced in pig pen.
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