Increasing efficiencies from integrating control and elimination programmes for soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis

Abstract

Attention is now beginning to focus on implementation of the new WHO NTD Roadmap (2021–2030), which presents single disease alliances and coalitions with an opportunity to consider novel ways to integrate and adapt control and elimination programmes to meet the new goals. This discussion piece links the parasitic worm diseases, caused by soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomes, highlighting that neglected tropical disease-control programmes could potentially benefit from greater cohesion and innovation, especially when increasing efforts to achieve elimination goals.

Exploring the Role of Community Involvement in Reducing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases in Malawi: Where are We in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases?

“…23 This new road map for 2021–2030, targets elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030 and the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in humans in selected countries by 2030. 45 …”

“…23 This new road map for 2021-2030, targets elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030 and the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in humans in selected countries by 2030. 45 Since 2009, Malawi has had ongoing national scale treatment program for schistosomiasis control. 12,25 Due to the high endemicity of the disease in all districts in the country, the national treatment programs covered all the districts.…”