It was the afternoon of February 16, 2026. Mwanakwetu was traveling in a white Toyota Land Cruiser with several health experts, returning from Bunda District where they had attended the launch of a mass drug administration campaign against schistosomiasis and intestinal worms in the region.
The event had been officially launched by the Mara Regional Commissioner, Colonel Evans Alfred Mtambi, alongside various Bunda District leaders, including the District Commissioner, Hon. Enock Kaminyonge.
Inside the government vehicle were several officials, among them the Mara Regional Health Secretary, Godbless Utouh. Seated next to him was Dr. Margreth Shaku, along with other colleagues.
“You know, these schistosomiasis and deworming tablets have greatly reduced cases of these diseases here in Tanzania. The current situation is much better. Just imagine how things were years ago.”
Said Dr. Shaku as the conversation inside the car continued.
“Currently, the infection rate for schistosomiasis stands at 26 percent, while in the former Tanganyika it was 28 percent. There was a time when it was estimated that nearly half of Tanzanians suffered from schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.”
As the discussion went on, Mwanakwetu noticed that the Mara Regional Medical Officer, Dr. Zabron Masatu, was not in the vehicle. Later, he realized that the doctor was traveling in another car. Everyone in the vehicle was engaged in their own conversations, but the main topic remained schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.
“It’s true these medicines have no harmful effects if taken properly. They advise that children should eat before swallowing them. Last year, when they were distributed in our area, my children and the neighbor’s child became very weak. A motorcycle rider found them on the road and carried them home in a terrible state. One of them was slightly better and managed to guide the rider to my house. When they arrived, I asked the rider where he had picked them up. He said, ‘Madam, take your children to the hospital.’ I gave them some water and they gradually felt better…”
As the debate intensified, Mwanakwetu recalled an incident from 1987 when he was a Standard Five pupil at Mnazi Mmoja Primary School. His younger brother, Modestus Makwega, was then in Standard Two.
It was during the midday break. Their mother, Teacher Doroth Hezron Mlemeta, who taught Standard Two, used to bring lunch from home and eat with her children at school. That day, as usual, she had brought food for them.
Back in 1987, Standard Two had many pupils, among them Johnson Kwilasa and Modestus Makwega. Johnson was a particularly bright student. Since Mwanakwetu’s mother supervised and marked the class exams, the name Johnson Kwilasa remained memorable. At that time, Johnson and his younger brother came from Vingunguti.
Mwanakwetu, still in the vehicle returning from Bunda to Musoma town, continued reflecting on those memories from Mnazi Mmoja Primary School in Dar es Salaam.
In those days, Standard Two pupils started school at 11 a.m. after Standard One pupils had left. They did not have the short midday break. So Mwanakwetu’s mother would serve lunch outside the classroom so they could finish quickly and she could return to teaching.
After they finished eating rice and beans, washed their bowls, and handed them back, their mother warned them:
“My children, be careful. There is schistosomiasis and intestinal worms. Don’t just play in water and eat carelessly. If you see a puddle of water, pass by it. Some children behave badly—they expose themselves and urinate in stagnant water. Do not do that. Today at around 10 a.m., a boy went to buy cassava at Mohamed’s kiosk. On his way back, he came across a puddle of dirty water. He exposed himself to urinate in it. Unknown to him, there was a live electric wire in that puddle. He was electrocuted and died on the spot. My children, be careful with water puddles. They are dirty and can cause schistosomiasis. If you see one, do not play in it—it is dangerous to your health.”
After lunch, each child returned to class until school ended at 2 p.m., and then they went back home to Mbagala.
These memories flooded Mwanakwetu’s mind as the journey from Bunda to Musoma continued. When the vehicle reached Kiabakari, one of the passengers said:
“Anyone who wants bananas, fruits, carrots, or groundnuts—buy them here.”
When the car stopped, vendors rushed to the windows. Everyone bought something. Dr. Shaku bought fresh groundnuts for those seated in the back, which were passed to Sadiki Unga from Star TV and to Mwanakwetu.
“Here, fresh groundnuts are called ‘gun oil,’”
Someone joked.
After everyone had bought what they wanted, the journey continued to Musoma town.
So what is Mwanakwetu saying today?
This article simply seeks to remind readers how serious schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections once were in Tanzania, how people struggled against them, and the fear that surrounded them.
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Mwanakwetu believes that if efforts to combat these diseases continue at this pace, by 2030 they will be completely eradicated.
Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:
“Do Not Expose Yourselves in Water Puddles.”
Have a good day.
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