END in Africa News
Benchmarking Organizational Capabilities: Where to Begin?
June 30th, 2015
NTD Program Management and Sustainable Impact Experience has shown that developing a Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) finance strategy that’s aligned with the country’s NTD Master Plan strengthens the latter and has a sustained, measurable impact. But effective finance strategies don’t happen overnight! Devising one requires a solid understanding of organizational capabilities as they related
On the ground during Niger’s eighth annual integrated MDA for NTDs
June 23rd, 2015
Niger’s National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Program launched its eighth annual mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in Niamey in March 2015. His Excellence Mano Aghali, Minister of Public Health of Niger presided at the launch event, which was held at the Collège d’Enseignement Général (CEG 5) middle school in Niamey and attended by an estimated
Planning for elimination within the USAID NTD portfolio
May 20th, 2015
Most people aren’t very fond of transitions; indeed, some even avoid them. But managers of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) programs aren’t like most people. Not only do they welcome program transitions, they actually seek them out. Why? Because in the world of NTD control and elimination, transitions are powerful signs of program success. Successful national
A Review of Burkina Faso’s NTD Program: Progress, Challenges and Next Steps
April 21st, 2015
In the past few years, Burkina Faso’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Program (NTDP) has made some pretty impressive inroads against several neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that have plagued the country for decades. Among its achievements are reaching World Health Organization (WHO) thresholds for stopping mass treatments (a.k.a. mass drug administration or MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF),
Niger revises strategies for schistosomiasis treatment and assessment
February 3rd, 2015
The West African country of Niger has been struggling for many years to control the spread of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by contact with tiny parasitic worms called schistosomes, which live in fresh water lakes and rivers. Even after more than seven years of almost nationwide mass treatments to prevent or cure the
A challenge like no other: How Sierra Leone’s NTD Program is weathering the Ebola epidemic
December 30th, 2014
It’s been very tough going for Sierra Leone’s NTD Program in the wake of the devastating Ebola crisis in that country. END in Africa recently asked Mustapha Sonnie and Stephanie Palmer, with END in Africa sub-grantee Helen Keller International, to tell us how the Ebola crisis has affected Sierra Leone’s progress toward NTD control and
Diversification is good for business…and for NTD Programs
December 16th, 2014
The private sector has money and a willingness to invest in public health. National NTD programs need funding to protect millions of the world’s poorest from devastating diseases. So, how can NTD program managers gain access to the world of private investment so they can start putting these funds to good use? END in Africa
With Progress Comes Challenges: As Countries Approach Lymphatic Filariasis and Trachoma Elimination, NTD Programs Look for Ways to Verify, Hang onto Success
November 18th, 2014
After years of grassroots outreach and nationwide travel to provide preventive medicines to millions of citizens, even those living in the most remote communities, END in Africa countries have good reason to celebrate the progress achieved in their fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), especially lymphatic filariasis (LF) and trachoma. In the three trachoma-endemic END
Collaborating for Results in Ghana: Public-Private Partnerships and NTDs
September 24th, 2014
Each year, members of Ghana’s Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP) gather at the SPMDP’s annual meeting to discuss new trends in healthcare and issues of common interest. After consistent advocacy by Ghana’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Programme, this year the SPMDP chose to focus its 36th annual meeting on building its members’
Celebrating USAID’s Billionth Global NTD Treatment in Burkina Faso
July 17th, 2014
Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, First Lady and US Ambassador to Burkina Faso Attend July 4th Event Distinguished guests including Burkina Faso’s prime minister, first lady, and minister of agriculture attended a special July 4th event at the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, celebrating the range and depth of US support for their country. After listening to