FIG partner Bridges To Development share their reflections on FGS at TropMed25
At the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2025 Annual Meeting several symposium, presentations, abstracts, and posters of new data and findings on female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) were presented. Following the meeting, Bridges to Development with the FGS Integration Group and the Canadian Network for NTDs convened participants including researchers, implementers, and country program leaders to reflect on emerging evidence and to align on research and implementation priorities for genital schistosomiasis (GS), including female genital schistosomiasis (FGS).
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) is the world’s largest scientific gathering dedicated to tropical infectious diseases and global health. Each year it brings together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and implementers who shape agendas, funding priorities, and programmatic direction across the sector. For female genital schistosomiasis (FGS)—a condition long overlooked despite affecting millions of women and girls—being prominently featured at ASTMH signals a major shift. It means FGS is finally entering mainstream global health conversations, gaining the visibility, legitimacy, and collective attention needed to drive policy change, investment, and integration into routine care.
Bridges to Development’s reflection on TropMed25 underscores how 2025 marked a turning point for FGS. The first public release of MAP‑FGS data across six African countries revealed a far greater burden than previously documented, offering unprecedented insights into prevalence, lesion profiles, diagnostic gaps, stigma, and reproductive health consequences. This new evidence base is already reshaping understanding of the disease and will guide programs more effectively as full results emerge in 2026.
Read Bridges earlier summary of the MAP-FGS session here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-learnings-from-map-fgs-presentation-astmh-bridgestodevelopment-ksi5c
Bridges’ own symposium demonstrated that integrating FGS into health systems is both feasible and urgently needed, with country leaders from Malawi and Kenya sharing practical models for embedding FGS into national guidelines and frontline services. Digital peer‑learning approaches and coordinated advocacy efforts further highlighted the momentum building across the field. A recurring message across speakers and panelists was the necessity of simple diagnostic pathways, reliable access to praziquantel, community engagement, and alignment across SRH, HIV, and NTD platforms to reach women where they already seek care.
A post‑conference strategy meeting, organised by Bridges to Development, the FGS Integration Group (FIG) and the Canadian Network for NTDs, reinforced that the FGS community is indeed entering a rare moment of alignment. Partners agreed that countries cannot wait for perfect evidence to begin integrating FGS into SRH, HIV, and primary care platforms. Immediate priorities are:
- integrating FGS into SRH, HIV, and primary care guidelines
- developing simplified diagnostic algorithms for frontline care
- ensuring reliable access to praziquantel through PHC and maternal health services
- scaling provider training, including through digital models
- reducing stigma by engaging families, men, adolescents, and community leaders
With major MAP‑FGS findings expected in 2026, a unified global communications effort will be essential to elevate FGS on the world stage.
With new tools, partnerships, and political opportunities converging, the community emphasized that women and girls have waited long enough—and that 2026 offers a pivotal opportunity for FGS to move from the margins to the center of women’s health and primary care.
A meeting report and publication are anticipated to follow.