Learning to strengthen healthcare for neglected diseases

Traditionally, many NTDs have been addressed through disease-specific programmes.

Although these approaches have contributed to significant progress, they can also create coordination challenges and lead to less efficient use of the available resources.

In settings where human, financial and healthcare resources are limited, it is essential to understand which intervention models can respond most effectively to people’s needs while strengthening health systems over the long term.

Together with EDI Global, Sierra Leone’s National NTD Programme and other stakeholders, the project evaluates the outcomes of an integrated intervention strategy addressing several NTDs, comparing it with approaches that focus more closely on individual diseases.

Through interviews, surveys, focus groups and an analysis of public policies and healthcare services, the initiative gathers evidence on aspects such as effectiveness, sustainability, efficiency and the adaptability of the two approaches.

The project also incorporates the perspectives of people affected, healthcare professionals, communities and health programme managers to better understand the practical effects of each model.

The evaluation will generate useful knowledge to inform future public health and NTD decision-making.

The results will help identify lessons learned, opportunities for improvement and good practices related to integrated intervention approaches, providing valuable information for programme managers, health institutions and organisations working towards the elimination of these diseases.

In addition, the evidence generated will help further promote care models that place people and health systems at the heart of the response to neglected diseases.