Move over Chutes & Ladders: Schisto & Ladders has educational value plus worms

Schistosomiasis prevention is getting a playful approach in Nigeria through a board game called “Schisto & Ladders,” inspired by the U.S. classic Chutes & Ladders dating to the 1940s. The game’s creators say it aims to teach children how to avoid infection from schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted when skin contacts infested waters. Players who land on squares such as “playing in a river” are warned about exposure risk, while the game swaps traditional chutes for a “Schisto worm” slide. The disease—known locally as “Atosi Aja” or Bloody Urine—can bring short-term symptoms including fever and rash, and blood in urine. Without treatment, it may cause organ and neurological damage, infertility, and even bladder cancer, with Nigeria reporting higher bladder cancer rates among young people. Developers Cynthia Umunnakwe and Professor Uwem Ekpo’s team launched the product in 2014, using mechanics that reward preventive behaviors like “eat before taking medicine,” “take praziquantel at school,” and “cutting vegetation around a river.” With more than 200 million cases across sub-Saharan Africa and limited access to testing and clean water, awareness is a key barrier the game targets.