WHO AFRO Convenes First Regional Advisory Group Meeting to Accelerate Integration of Urogenital Schistosomiasis into Health Systems

Brazzaville, Congo | 17–18 February 2026 — The WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) convened the inaugural in-person meeting of the Regional Expert Advisory Group on Urogenital Schistosomiasis (TAG-UGS) to accelerate coordinated regional action on urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), including female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and male genital schistosomiasis (MGS).

The meeting marked a strategic shift from fragmented advocacy and isolated pilot initiatives toward a structured, systems-oriented approach aligned with WHO normative guidance and regional health frameworks. 

Addressing a Persistent but Under-Recognized Burden

Despite decades of preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis, millions of women and girls in the African Region continue to experience chronic genital morbidity associated with Schistosoma haematobium infection. Participants underscored that FGS is frequently misdiagnosed as sexually transmitted infections, contributing to infertility, stigma, increased vulnerability to HIV, and possible links to cervical cancer. 

Opening the meeting on behalf of the Director of Disease Prevention and Control (DPC), Dr Elizabeth Juma, ESPEN Team Lead, emphasized that UGS remains one of the most persistent yet under-recognized forms of schistosomiasis-related morbidity in the Region. She called for a coordinated, normative and systems-oriented response embedded within national health systems, rather than continued reliance on fragmented or vertical approaches. 

Integration as the Central Organizing Principle

A clear consensus emerged: UGS must be repositioned within broader health systems rather than confined to neglected tropical disease (NTD) platforms alone 

Participants recommended embedding FGS and MGS within:

• Sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services
• HIV and STI programmes
• Cervical cancer screening and prevention platforms
• Maternal, adolescent and primary health care services 

Rather than creating new vertical programmes, the Group emphasized leveraging existing service delivery platforms to reduce missed opportunities for diagnosis and care.

Defining a Minimum Integration Package

To move from policy endorsement to operationalization, the TAG-UGS proposed the development of a minimum integration package adaptable to country contexts. Core elements include:

• Inclusion of FGS in STI syndromic management and cervical cancer screening protocols
• Structured follow-up guidance after praziquantel treatment
• Workforce training across medical, nursing and midwifery cadres
• Improved forecasting and facility-level access to praziquantel
• Inclusion of FGS/MGS indicators within national health information systems (e.g. DHIS2) 

This phased and measurable approach aims to support gradual scale-up while strengthening governance, supply chains and monitoring systems.

Mental Health and UGS: A Critical Link

Discussions also highlighted the intersection between UGS and mental health. Chronic genital symptoms, infertility and stigma contribute to psychological distress among affected women and men. Participants identified opportunities to integrate psychosocial screening and referral pathways within decentralized primary health care platforms, including through task-sharing and mhGAP models. The integration of mental health considerations reinforces a holistic, gender-responsive approach to morbidity management.

Strengthening Governance, Monitoring and Financing

Fragmented governance and limited cross-programme coordination were identified as persistent barriers. The Group recommended strengthening national coordination mechanisms within existing technical working groups and refining a Landscape Analysis Tool to guide structured country assessments.

In addition, members called for:

• Expanding monitoring beyond preventive chemotherapy coverage indicators
• Including morbidity and quality-of-life measures
• Developing an investment case for UGS to engage Ministries of Finance
• Integrating FGS within universal health coverage (UHC) and health insurance discussions 

Participants emphasized that sustainable integration requires parallel strengthening of drug forecasting, training, reporting systems and domestic resource mobilization.

A Shared Vision for the Region

TAG-UGS members articulated a shared vision of progressive elimination of genital schistosomiasis in endemic African countries, full integration within SRH and HIV services, standardized regional tools, sustainable surveillance systems and measurable progress through harmonized indicators. 

In closing the meeting, Dr Juma reaffirmed WHO AFRO’s commitment to consolidating the Group’s recommendations and refining the proposed tools for review during forthcoming virtual sessions. She emphasized that the ultimate focus must remain on the end user — women, men, adolescents and communities affected by UGS — and on translating technical deliberations into practical, country-oriented guidance that strengthens health systems and restores dignity to affected populations.

The inaugural TAG-UGS meeting establishes a new regional architecture for coordinated action on urogenital schistosomiasis. By embedding genital schistosomiasis within broader health systems and advancing integration across SRHR, HIV, cervical cancer and primary care services, WHO AFRO and its partners aim to transform UGS from a neglected and fragmented issue into a visible and measurable public health priority in the African Region.