A JUNIOR doctor from East Lancashire has just returned from a life-saving trip to Madagascar to help children suffering from a deadly disease.

Dr Stephen Spencer wanted to visit the remote villages on the Indian Ocean island to screen and treat youngsters suffering from bilharzia.

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He approached the World Health Organisation who helped him arrange the expedition and put him in touch with medical students at Antananarivo University in Madagascar.

His three-week trip involved research into the disease and screening and treating schoolchildren in the remote area of Marolambo.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust – where he works in the microbiology department at the Royal Blackburn Hospital – also donated medical equipment and supplies to the team for use during the trip.

The team screened children from three villages and found that in some of them virtually all the youngsters were suffering from the parasitic worms which burrow into the skin and, if left untreated, can be fatal.

“I was really excited about the work we carried out as Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is an important disease in Madagascar, and one that is often neglected, particularly in rural areas.

"This trip took over two years to organise but was well worth the effort and I was lucky to have had a great team with me who managed to jump over many hurdles. Seeing such high prevalence rates confirms we did the right thing in going and working with the Madagascan authorities,” said Stephen.

Before returning to the UK, he met with the Ministry of Health to discuss the high rates and setting up mass drug administration. The Madagascan government has now asked him to return to carry out the necessary work next year.

Stephen, a Foundation Year One doctor, said: “I am extremely grateful for all the support from many organisations, but East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust stands out, as without their support this trip could not have gone ahead.”

Dr Ruth White, Consultant Microbiologist at the Trust, added: “I was so impressed with Stephen’s drive and determination to get such an important project off the ground.”