Letter to the Editor: Eradicating helminthic infections
Dear Editor,
Thank you and your entire team for establishing and maintaining the SSMJ despite limited resources.
I enjoyed reading the last edition of the SSMJ. My attention was drawn to the interesting case reports, especially the one on the endoscopic diagnosis of hookworm infestation.[1] This case, in my opinion, illustrates the failure of even the most expensive curative medicine in eradicating helminthic infestations and improving the lives of people in a community. Provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal would be more effective in this regard. Furthermore, technologically advanced, and expensive sanitation systems are not always necessary for achieving that goal. Low cost, basic, sanitation systems such as latrines and diversion of surface water away from shallow wells can serve any community very well.
Therefore, I would like to suggest that a future edition of the SSMJ be devoted to the promotion of basic, public health measures that will help in eradicating helminthic infections not only in South Sudan, but also throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
1. Abdirahman et al. Endoscopically diagnosed hookworm infestation in an adult with chronic iron deficiency anaemiat, South Sudan Medical Journal, 2024;17(2):75-80 © 2024 The Author (s) License: This is an open access article under CC BY-NC DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ssmj.v17i2.7
