In Katosi, a tiny fishing village in central Uganda, health volunteers, called community drug distributors, are fighting to protect their community from a harmful parasite that lurks in the rippling waters of Africa’s largest lake.
For those who call Katosi home, the threat of schistosomiasis — a parasitic infection transmitted in fresh water — is constant.
From fishing, to fetching water, to washing dishes and clothes, Lake Victoria is key to the lives and livelihoods of Katosi residents, making them more at risk for infection. Children are particularly vulnerable, leading to malnutrition, absenteeism, and impaired cognitive development. In some cases, schistosomiasis can also lead to organ damage, gastro-intestinal bleeding, and even death.
