So I have this disease... now what?
How do people find out about this disease?
Where is all of my money going?
How has the number of infections changed over the past century?
How do I find out I have African sleeping sickness?
In past endemics, when proper screening methods were put in place, it brought transmission rates and number of infections to trace amounts. If a cheaper and more effective method of screening is used, it would greatly improve the endemic regions. It would not only have an effective way of detection, better cure rate, but may also create jobs for individuals who would be making minimal amounts. Currently the screening although effective requires a lot of time and effort, sending blood and lymph samples to the lab and waiting for results does not prove to be cost effective.
Screening has been proven effective under the following circumstances: attendance, sensitivity of screening, sensitivity of parasitological confirmation, proportion of confirmed cases that receive treatment and cure rate of the treatment. The most important out of those five characteristics is attendance. Therefore an incentive for those who come for screening should be created because if they did not come they would be aiding in the process of increased transmission therefore aside from there health and longevity be commended for wanting to help others.