Guinea eliminates sleeping sickness as public health problem

By Blessing Chinagorom

World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the elimination of gambiense form of Human African trypanosomiasis popular known as sleeping sickness as public health problem in Guinea.

In a congratulatory measage to the country on Wednesday, the health agency said this form African trypanosomiasis, the only type transmitted in Guinea, and is the first neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in the country.

Adding that the news marks an important achievement in this public health field on the eve of the world Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, marked on 30 January.
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by infected tsetse flies. Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint pain and, in advanced stages, neurological symptoms such as confusion, disrupted sleep patterns and behavioural changes.

WHO Director-General. Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus said in his comment that today’s announcement is both testament to the global progress against neglected tropical diseases and a beacon of hope for nations still battling human African trypanosomiasis.

Guinea’s Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr Oumar Diouhé said the elimination of sleeping sickness is the result of many years of effort by the Guinean government, its partners and communities in the overall context of the national policy to combat all neglected tropical diseases.
Also, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis by Guinea is a significant public health achievement. “Vulnerable families and communities can now live free of the threat posed by this potentially fatal disease”.

African WHO Director congratulated Guinea’s govt, health workers, partners, communities for this crucial milestone. “WHO remains committed to supporting countries to eliminate human African trypanosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases in Africa”, she added.

The Agency attributed the success to collaboration with local communities which played a critical role throughout these years, ensuring that interventions were culturally acceptable and widely supported.
Advances in diagnostic techniques, treatment delivery, and consistent financial and technical backing from WHO and other partners bolstered the programme’s impact.

As a result, Guinea successfully reduced the number of HAT cases to below the WHO threshold of 1 case per 10 000 inhabitants in all endemic areas, achieving a major milestone in its fight against this neglected tropical disease.

With Guinea, seven other countries have been validated by WHO for eliminating the human African trypanosomiasis: Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Côte d’Ivoire (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Ghana (2023) and Chad (2024).

The rhodesiense form of the disease has been eliminated as a public health problem in one country, Rwanda, as validated by WHO in 2022.