The Oasis Foundation
Grace Village
Ethiopia

Kelakil / Tseada Amba Update 7th May 2008

Three studies have been done on the population:

• National Research Institution, Ethiopia – suggested P. Alkaloid toxic contaminants of Argeratum
• Centre for Disease Control, USA - suggested possible Schistosomiasis Mansoni
• Imperial College, London – Schistosomiasis Control Initiative – sent a team:

Of forty six (46) stools from both Tseada Amba and Kelakil the findings were as follows:

• One schistosoma mansoni
• Four H. Nana
• One Clonorchias (Liver fluke)
• Two ankylostome (hookworm)
• One strongoloides Larvae
• The remaining were normal

Of fifty (50) urine samples taken at both sites the findings were as follows:

• There were nine Positive to blood in the urine (heamaturia)
• However there was no schistosoma heamatomium

The final analysis is that schistosomiasis is not the cause of morbidity.

Possible way forward suggested by the visiting team in Shire:

1. Work closely with the Regional Health Bureau Head, Dr. Geber’ab Barnabas.
2. Create good linkages with Control for Disease Center (CDC) and National Research Institute (NRI) and Schistosoma Control Initiative (SCI) so that all are kept up to date on developments.
3. Complete medical examination on affected / sick people, treat them and give basic health care for actual symptoms.
4. Start the ill on high protein diet, possibly soya bean flour.
5. Treat the population with albendazole and prazequantal because of the antibodies found by CDC.
6. Medical experts should continue to examine patients, and do a complete medical profile on those affected:
   • Arrange with Dr. Gebre’ab for
   • Samples to be examined and / or taken to Addis Ababa or abroad
   • Possible post mortem for any diseased
7. The HIV status should be checked for all those who are showing symptoms
8. It was suggested that NRI follows up on the P. Alkaloid hypothesis for this area.

We will need to feed up the population because they are so weak. Last Friday when we went to the internally displaced people (IDP) where there were so many youngsters were so very ill, puffy faces, bloody urine and that haunting hopeless look in their faces. Poor wee darlings! Some will die...

On Saturday we climbed our amazing Ethiopian mountains to reach the water source, after a pause at the monastery where we ate local millet pancake and hot pepper and salt we walked on, I (Ruth) stayed at the third mountain top while the team went down to the very hot plains to the water source. Then we all struggled to retrace our steps. It pulled at our lungs and legs, the locals just strode along easily!

What struck us all were the empty houses dotted around, the local monk told us that whole families had died, in one case tem people, but next door the people were fine and there was no illness. Those who died did so with enlarge abdomens, indicating large livers (hepatomegaly) and collection of fluid in the abdomen (ascites). The whole place is like a ghost farming community with falling down houses and compounds as well as the occasional sporadic householder still living there and ekeing out his very existence.

The best in the world have come and seen and we seem to be no nearer a solution! We are going to keep on trying though and we have some great folk wanting to help us which makes it hopeful.