Partnership Drives Major Gains Against Schistosomiasis

Lao PDR is moving closer to eliminating schistosomiasis, with infection rates reduced to below 1 per cent in high-risk areas and thousands of people gaining protection from the disease.

“The journey to a schistosomiasis-free Lao PDR is about more than numbers; it’s about restoring well-being, freeing communities from the shadow of disease, and enabling families to grow and prosper,” said Dr Razia Pendse, WHO Representative to Lao PDR.

Once affecting more than 40 per cent of people in some communities along the Mekong River, schistosomiasis is now confined to 202 villages in southern Champasack Province, where around 120,000 people remain at risk. A partnership involving the Lao Ministry of Health, WHO, China and Switzerland has supported mass treatment, improved water and sanitation, health education and stronger disease surveillance. In 2024 alone, more than 95,000 people received treatment, while collaboration with Cambodia has strengthened cross-border control efforts. Building on the elimination of trachoma in 2017 and lymphatic filariasis in 2023, the campaign demonstrates how sustained investment and international cooperation can help defeat long-standing diseases and improve public health.