The game "Schisto & Ladders" is introduced to students in an elementary school in a part of Nigeria where the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, spread by parasitic worms, affects many residents.This version of the classic "Chutes & Ladders" games aims to teach children how to avoid getting infected — and details of the treatment for those who catch it.
Daniel Amao hide caption Chutes & Ladders has been a beloved board game in the U.S.since the 1940s — adapted from an ancient Indian game that aimed to teach moral lessons.Kids in Nigeria are now playing a version called "Schisto & Ladders." It too aims to teach — about how to prevent a disease called schistosomiasis.
It's a parasiticinfection caused by a worm that infects humans via skin contact with infested waters.An unlucky player might land on a square that says "playing in a river" That puts you at risk for this tropical disease — and sends your game token down a worm instead of a chute.Nigerian researcher and educator Cynthia Umunnakwe is one of the developers of the game — it's part of an arsenal of creative approaches to warding off the illness.Known locally at "Atosi Aja" or Bloody Urine, the disease not only causes blood in the urine but has other short-term symptoms such as fever and rash.
If untreated, it can cause major organ and neurological damage, infertility and even bladder cancer.In Nigeria, it is associated with higher rates of bladder cancer in young people.Known as a Neglected Tropical Disease because of the lack of funding to fight it, schistosomiasis is a serious challenge for impoverished communities.
There are over 200 million cases across sub-Saharan Africa.School age children are at the greatest risk of infection because they like to play in the water and their immune systems aren't fully developed.Though effective medication ex...