Abstract
The discharge of irrigation drainage water through a natural depression in the Benue valley of North Cameroon, has created a permanently flooded habitat for freshwater snails which transmit schistosomiasis. The risk of transmission of schistosomiasis for people living near this depression has considerably increased. In close cooperation and consultation with the local population the depression was reconstructed in order to destroy snail breeding sites and to use the available land and water for agriculture and fisheries. Results indicate that the availability of a manageable water supply is welcomed by the villagers, especially because it makes dry-season horticulture a more attractive and profitable endeavour. In addition the production of fish is appreciated because it provides a cheap additional source of protein for local consumption. Snail populations have dramatically decreased in numbers after the reconstruction of the depression, showing that an integrated approach to drainage problems can result in increased production while reducing health risks.
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