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“We want to integrate our approach and accelerate the
elimination of the five high-burden NTDs in order to meet
WHO’s Roadmap targets for 2020. We can do this by creating
conditions that will provide appropriate and timely technical
support to countries as and when needed – and all this in
a cohesive and cost-effective manner”, said Dr Matshidiso
Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in her opening
speech at an ESPEN consultative meeting.”
Since her appointment as Regional Director for
Africa in February 2015, Dr Moeti has introduced
initiatives to make better health and well-being
a reality for Africans. In providing her support
for a lean and responsive ESPEN, Dr Moeti is
reiterating WHO’s commitment to coordinate
and strengthen collaboration with countries,
donors and partners.
Funding
To achieve the 2020 NTD targets, ESPEN
requires an annual budget of USD 10 million
to support operational costs and staff salaries.
About 75 percent of the total budget will
support technical and operational activities as
well as monitoring and evaluation. For instance,
if USD 10 million is mobilised for 2016, ESPEN
will be able to reach more than 145 million
people at risk in 26 countries with donated
medicines. Expected to start its operations from
1 January 2016, current funding for ESPEN is
still inadequate.
Neglected tropical diseases in the WHO
African Region and the future of Sustainable
Development Goals
Neglected tropical diseases affect the most
vulnerable and poorest populations of low and
middle-income countries. Affecting more
than 1 billion people worldwide, the diseases
are endemic in 149 countries, 40% within the
WHO African Region. All the 47 countries of
the Region are endemic for at least two NTDs,
and the population at risk requiring preventive
chemotherapy ranges from 123 million for
Onchocerciasis to 470 million for lymphatic
filariasis.
Eliminating NTDs in affected countries is
more than an aspiration; it is a foundation for
achieving the sustainable development goals.
The SDGs provide an opportunity to address
NTDs, particularly through SDG 3 which focuses
on universal health coverage and ‘health for
all’. In respect to this, ESPEN advocates for
a holistic approach to tackle health problems
using the preventive chemotherapy, health
education, improving access to safe drinking
water, sanitation and hygiene (PHASE)
approach. By supporting endemic countries to
complete mapping of preventive chemotherapy-
NTDs; scaling of up mass drug administration
to reach millions of people at risk of NTDs
and harnessing all existing resources through
coordination of NTD programmes, ESPEN will
contribute to attaining SDGs. Lessons learnt
in tackling NTDs will be applied to achieving
the sustainable development goals. The more
NTD programmes reach the inaccess