To understand the challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for maximizing continuity of disease control during public health emergencies, we sought perspectives from Nigeria and Guinea on the process of restarting NTD control efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources
Restarting Neglected Tropical Diseases Programs in West Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Best Practices
In line with the WHO recommendations and guidance issued in April 2020, USAID advised Act | West to temporarily suspend NTD field activities.
Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on SCH among school age children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study
Christos Kokaliaris, Amadou Garba, Martin Matuska, Rachel N Bronzan, Daniel G Colley, Ameyo M Dorkenoo, Uwem F Ekpo, Fiona M Fleming, Michael D French, Achille Kabore, Jean B Mbonigaba, Nicholas Midzi, Pauline N M Mwinzi, Eliézer K N'Goran, Maria Rebollo Polo, Moussa Sacko, Louis-Albert Tchuem Tchuenté, Edridah M Tukahebwa, Pitchouna A Uvon, Guojing Yang, Lisa Wiesner, Yaobi Zhang, Jürg Utzinger, Penelope Vounatsou,
Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2021, ISSN 1473-3099,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00090-6.
Applying a quality improvement model to neglected tropical diseases program implementation: supporting programs in identifying keys for sustaining operations
West African neglected tropical diseases (NTD) programs have made great progress toward the elimination/control of NTDs amenable to preventive chemotherapy. However, some districts have failed impact surveys—notably for lymphatic filariasis and trachoma—due to implementation inadequacies, despite reporting good mass treatment coverage. A quality improvement framework has been initiated to strengthen country program interventions and address issues that hinder their ability to achieve the World Health Organization NTD road map elimination/control goals.
The workshop aims to present an innovative model for improving implementation and discuss ideas, strategies, and plans for initiating quality improvement (QI) activities. Experiences from Ghana and Sierra Leone in the design and implementation of the QI model will be shared.
Risk factors associated with failing pre-transmission assessment surveys (pre-TAS) in lymphatic filariasis elimination programs: Results of a multi-country analysis
This paper reports for the first time factors associated with pre-transmission assessment survey (pre-TAS) results from a multi-country analysis. This information can help countries more effectively forecast program activities, such as the potential need for more rounds of mass drug administration, and prioritize resources to ensure adequate coverage of all persons in areas at highest risk of failing pre-TAS.
Striving for gender equity in the fight against neglected tropical diseases
It’s no secret that men and women don’t always have equal access to health services, so USAID’s NTD Programs recently studied gender balance in mass drug administration for NTDs.