MALARIA CONSORTIUM UK

Neglected tropical diseases in southern sudan: situation analysis and intervention options appraisal.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect the poorest of the poor. It is estimated that proportional to its population, Southern Sudan has the greatest NTD burden in the world. With the return of relative stability, health sector reconstruction has started and opportunities to control NTDs are opening up. However, no systematic analysis of the distribution and burden has been carried out, nor have the options of intervening on a fledgling health system and the potential cost implications have been investigated. In line with COMDIS' outputs on new tools and strategies to 1a) improve quality and/or coverage of CDC programmes, and 1b) improve delivery of CDC programmes in decentralised health systems, this study was proposed to put in place the foundations to achieve these outputs in Southern Sudan. Provision of COMDIS funds would allow a dedicated team of public health specialists, researchers and policy makers to develop an up-to-date profile of NTDs and identify appropriate interventions for Southern Sudan.

The study was conducted to provide an up-to-date picture of the distribution and burden of NTDs and current interventions o control them; to determine how existing interventions could be improved and assess the potential for new integrated control interventions. The role of Integrated Vector Management of Malaria and options for delivery of a mass drug administration (MDA) package for NTD control and resources available were assessed.