The gender strategy contains an actionable set of recommendations, based on literature and quantitative and qualitative data, intended to contribute to the overall achievement of Act to End NTDs | West program objectives as well as to increase gender equality throughout program implementation. 

Objectives

• Everyone, regardless of sex, disability status, ethnicity, religion, language, national or social origin, and economic status will have equal and improved access to treatment for onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasis, and trachoma as relevant, through the 11 Act | West program countries.
• Increase knowledge of diseases, access to information on mass drug administration (MDA) timing and locations, and education on potential side-effects to enable people to make informed decisions regarding participation in MDA. 
• Promote and support gender equitable participation in the role of community drug distributor (CDD), removing barriers for women to safely and inclusively participate as CDDs in NTD programs.