New WHO-AFRO Report Highlights Progress and Challenges in NTD Control in Africa

25 Nov 2023

 

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo - The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) has released a significant report titled "Control, Elimination, and Eradication Efforts for Neglected Tropical Diseases." This comprehensive scoping review of literature since 1990 addresses the ongoing battle against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the African region, diseases which are often chronic, disabling, and disfiguring, primarily affecting those in extreme poverty​.

 

This systematic review delved into the state of NTD control, elimination, and eradication in the 47 Member States of the WHO African Region. It encompassed an extensive analysis of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and guidance documents from WHO, UN partners, academic, and research institutions, focusing on publications relevant to the African Region from January 1990 to December 2022​​.

 

The review included 480 peer-reviewed articles, six Cochrane systematic reviews, and 134 technical reports or program evaluations. These publications were categorized by thematic area, location, funding entity, and specific NTDs. Notably, the report documented the availability of national multi-year strategic plans for NTDs for each country in the region. The recent years (2020 to present) have seen as many, if not more, publications on this topic compared to the previous decade, indicating a growing focus on NTDs​.

The report underlines the need for standardized diagnostic tools, mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns, and monitoring and evaluation activities for NTD programs. It advocates for a more integrated approach to maximize the impact of available resources and highlights the importance of focusing on mobile or displaced populations, who may contribute to the re-emergence or persistence of NTDs as countries strive to interrupt transmission. The review also points out the necessity of addressing NTD control efforts in hard-to-reach areas, either due to remoteness or security concerns, and underscores the potential benefits of establishing academic partnerships or regional centres of excellence. These findings are poised to contribute significantly to regional strategies and scientific evidence base within the African continent​.

Stay updated on these critical efforts and advancements in combating NTDs in Africa through the WHO-AFRO communications and the ESPEN NTD Portal.