German company to donate shipment of 6m medications

Sudan is set to receive a shipment of 6 million medications from German pharmaceutical giant Merck, to treat the parasitic infection schistosoma. Schistosomiasis, also known as blood-fluke or snail fever, is caused by several species of a parasitic worm which can often cause chronic illness that can damage internal organs as well as impairing growth and cognitive development.  The disease is often present in developing countries where sufferers cannot afford proper water and sanitation facilities and are often exposed to contaminated water containing the infected snails. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the German Ambassador to Khartoum, Rolf Welberts, said his country was keen to keep up its health commitments to Sudan. Welberts claimed that Merck had provided the treatment out of a sense of "social duty" towards African nations. "This is the beginning of Sudanese-German cooperation," he said, "especially as schistosoma is a disease that is often neglected and which requires early treatment." Welberts said he has invited a number of officials from Sudan’s Health Ministry to attend a medical conference, set to be held in Germany next month. Spokesperson for Merck, Frank Gotthardt told Arabstoday that his company is a “pioneer of medication for the prevention and treatment of schistosoma.” “Merck has a long history of helping countries affected by the disease (schistosoma) and will stay committed to helping Sudan in this area for the next 20 years,” said Gotthardt. Meanwhile, Dr Talal al-Fadel, a senior health official in Sudan, said the medical aid provided by Merck makes up almost 50 percent of the planned coverage for schoolchildren. Al-Fadel said similar partnerships with South Korea and Egypt provide full treatment of the disease across the country. Speaking about the higher rates of schistosoma suffered by resident in North Kordofan and Darfur, al-Fadel said the country’s health ministry's plans to train volunteers as well as spreading awareness.