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

A new twist on classic board games is being used to fight schistosomiasis in Nigeria, where children are playing “Schisto & Ladders” instead of Chutes & Ladders. The game, created in 2014 by a team led by Professor of Parasitology Uwem Ekpo of Akwa Ibom State University, is designed to teach prevention through play. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection transmitted to humans via skin contact with infested waters, and it can cause blood in urine along with fever and rash. If untreated, it can lead to major organ and neurological damage, infertility, and even bladder cancer, with higher bladder cancer rates among young people in Nigeria. The board includes squares that send players up ladders for positive actions like “take praziquantel at school” and “cutting vegetation around a river.” Developers Cynthia Umunnakwe and her team say children most at risk include school-age kids who often play in water. With over 200 million cases across sub-Saharan Africa, the initiative targets awareness where testing, treatment, and clean water access are limited.