In this research, we report on the performance of automated optical digital detection and quantification of Schistosoma haematobium provided by AiDx NTDx multi-diagnostic Assist microscope. Our study was community-based, and a convenient sampling method was used in 17 communities in Abuja Nigeria, based on the disease prevalence information extracted from the baseline database on schistosomiasis, NTD Division, of the Federal Ministry of Health. At baseline, samples from 869 participants were evaluated of which 358 (34.1%) tested S. haematobium positive by the reference diagnostic standard. Registered images from the fully automated (autofocusing, scanning, image registration and processing, AI image analysis and automatic parasite count) AiDx assist microscope were analyzed. The Semi automated (autofocusing, scanning, image registration & processing and manual parasite count) and the fully automated AiDx Assist showed comparable sensitivities and specificities of [90.3%, 98%] and [89%, 99%] respectively. Overall, estimated egg counts of the semi-automated & fully automated AiDx Assist correlated significantly with the egg counts of conventional microscopy (r = 0.93, p ≤ 0.001 and r = 0.89, p ≤ 0.001 respectively). The AiDx Assist device performance is consistent with requirement of the World Health Organization diagnostic target product profile for monitoring, evaluation, and surveillance of Schistosomiasis elimination Programs.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a major public health burden which mainly affects poor populations living in tropical environments and hard-to-reach areas. The study sought to examine coverage of preventive efforts, and case surveillance for NTDs in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana.

The wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs Patience Eno, has called for collaboration among critical stakeholders in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria. Speaking during the First NTDs Stakeholders’ Summit in Uyo on Monday, Mrs Umo Eno said synergy between non-governmental organisations, academia, governments and other relevant stakeholders is a sure way to combat the prevalence of NTDs.

Particularly gross is the prevalence of infectious diseases in First Nations communities, despite those same infections being unknown or eradicated among non-Indigenous Australians. In fact, as we heard at the conference, for some Indigenous and remote communities in Australia the problem of worms and other parasites is not only not improving—it's potentially worsening.

The Federal Government says insecurity, diversion and theft of medicines are threatening the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases in the country. The National Coordinator for NTDs in the Federal Ministry of Health, Fatai Oyediran, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent, also said paucity of funds were challenges facing the fight against the disease.

NTDs are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, where they affect more than one billion people who live in poor communities. They are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins. The diseases cause devastating health, social and economic consequences to more than one billion people.

Cross River state government in collaboration with USAID’s Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases/East (Act/East) programme and Results for Development (R4D) have successfully completed a groundbreaking Fund Flow Analysis study to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state and Nigeria at large. 

The 14th Annual NNN Conference will take place 19-21 September 2023 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and online. Virtual tickets still are available.

As one of the world’s leading forums for global health, and the only global platform for NTD practitioners, the NNN Annual Conference brings together leaders in the field of NTD programme implementation, research, policy, communications, and advocacy to drive forward the global NTD elimination agenda and work towards a world where people no longer have to suffer from easily preventable diseases.

The theme for this year’s conference is "Reaching new frontiers - powering a new generation of leadership and cross-sectoral collaborations to end NTDs." The theme stands on the pillars of the WHO NTD Roadmap, reflecting NNN's commitment to cross-sectoral collaborations and partnerships, and centering endemic voices in the fight against NTDs. This year, the NNN is adding new events to our existing conference structure to maximize our time together and enhance networking and collaboration opportunities. These include a Youth-led panel discussion on demand generation, NTDs storytelling lab, the inaugural NNN Regional Meeting for Africa and partner events pre- and post-conference.