Fighting Female Genital Schistosomiasis
with science, innovation, and technology – DUALSAVE-FGS Vision
Around 300 million African girls and women are at risk from the poverty related disease, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), 400 million are at risk from cervical cancer in the lower part of the uterus. Most of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The symptoms from FGS are similar to those from cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Women with FGS infected tissue (lesions), may have bloody and unpleasant smelling discharge. They could also be in pain and are at higher risk for HIV and Human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted family of viruses which causes cervical cancer.
FGS is best diagnosed by directly looking at the shape and colour of the lesion at the point-of care. The problem is that this visual diagnosis is difficult to master because the lesion may look similar to lesions caused by cervical cancer and other diseases. Therefore, health professionals need several weeks of training where the disease is seen frequently, and often health professionals need to use a colposcope (a microscope fitted with a light) to recognize FGS. Worldwide, there are only a handful of health professionals who are proficient in FGS diagnosis.
The Solution
The standard sophisticated colposcopes are not readily available in rural African areas. But our Greek partner QCELL is developing an easy-to-use portable version of a colposcope. Software in the flexible colposcope will enhance the appearance of FGS lesions. Our colposcope uses light able to penetrate tissue and may show eggs, laid by the Bilharzia worm. These are the eggs which causes FGS.
The software designed by QCELL is an evolution of a original colposcope, used for cervical cancer recognition. It will be adapted and validated for FGS diagnosis in sub-Saharan Africa in this project.
What we will do:
With EU funding we will conduct clinical trials in three sub-Saharan countries (South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique) with different FGS epidemiology and different gynecological investigations of women. The ultimate aim is a local production of the portable colposcope. Equipment, consultation and training will be adapted to practical realities (such as unstable electricity, internet, and cultural considerations.) The diagnosis will be at the point-of-care following the recommendation of the World Health organisation (WHO).
This project is a thrust to promote health for women, clinical research and digitalisation for vulnerable populations. Clinicians and interdisciplinary scientists will receive training in FGS research methodology. We will evaluate the procedures, and their impact on women. PhD and Masters´ students will receive training. The international collaboration will be between three African (South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique) and three European (Norway, Denmark, Greece) countries.
