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January 29, 2006
Combating elephantiasis in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has been engaged recently in a concerted campaign to combat elephantiasis in the country.
The disease causes disfigurement of limbs and can affect genitals and breasts as well. Such disfigurement can not only rob people of the ability to work, but result in stigmatisation, social rejection and psychological trauma. Apparently about 1 million are affected in some way in Burkina.
15 000 health workers and volunteers have been distributing free medicines and spreading information and awareness about the disease, helped by free medicines provided by GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, and 200 million CFA francs (US $368,000) from the Burkina government.
Tags: burkina faso africa elephantiasis burkina health
Posted by Keith at January 29, 2006 10:19 AM
