Support for the WHO in combatting NTDs in 14 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa

Fighting against forgotten diseases requires coordinated action on a global scale.

Since 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has promoted an integrated approach to controlling, eliminating and eradicating 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). However, over 1 billion people still suffer from them around the world, particularly in the most impoverished and forgotten places on the planet.

In Africa, we work from this approach in collaboration with governments and local organisations, and now we are going one step further.

Through a pioneering project with the WHO, we are expanding this methodology to 14 countries where NTDs are endemic: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.

The initiative is made up of four spheres of action:

• We coordinate with other international organisations to promote the integrated approach to fight against skin-related NTDs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• We promote communication and awareness on these NTDs through manuals, infographics, posters, videos, etc.
• We strengthen the supply of medicines, diagnosis tests, ITCs and the transport of materials to strengthen health systems in the region.
• We monitor and evaluate the WHO’s strategy to improve future interventions.

This proposal will contribute to expanding access to NTD treatments for impoverished populations in 14 countries, with a greater impact among women and children.

The total population of countries where this strategy is deployed is in excess of 450 million people, and strengthening their health systems will contribute to controlling and even eliminating these diseases rooted in poverty.