By Joke Kujenya
A MAJOR breakthrough in Guinea’s public health landscape has been achieved with the elimination of the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the milestone, marking it as the first neglected tropical disease to be eradicated in the country.
The announcement highlights years of dedicated efforts by health authorities and partners, ensuring that the disease no longer poses a significant threat to the population.
Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease transmitted by tsetse flies, causing fever, joint pain, and severe neurological symptoms in advanced stages.
During the 1990s, cases surged along Guinea’s coastal regions, driven by increasing human activity in mangrove areas. In response, the government launched the National Programme for the Control of Human African Trypanosomiasis in 2002, supported by WHO and research institutions.
This initiative introduced large-scale medical screenings and, by 2012, vector control measures, including insecticide-treated mini-screens, to reduce disease transmission.
Guinea faced setbacks in its fight against sleeping sickness, particularly during the Ebola outbreak (2013–2015) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).
These crises disrupted screening and treatment efforts, causing a resurgence in cases.
However, the country adapted by deploying door-to-door screening and maintaining its vector control interventions.
Through consistent national commitment and strong community engagement,
Guinea successfully reduced infection rates below WHO’s threshold, achieving official validation.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended the achievement, calling it “a beacon of hope” for other nations combating neglected tropical diseases.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, commended the Guinean government, health workers, and local communities for their relentless efforts. Guinea now joins Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Chad in eliminating the gambiense form of the disease.
He described this success as a feat that stresses the importance of sustained investment in public health initiatives.
Also, WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting other African nations in eliminating sleeping sickness and other neglected diseases.
