Mobile phone-based text messages have proven to be effective in routine workflows such as, data collection and reporting on Lymphatic Filariasis morbidity cases, patient to provider communication, decision making and supportive supervision. Mobile phones have also improved efficiency and general performance of end users in terms of increased number of cases identified and efficiency gained in terms of reduced paper work and the ability to collect and report in real-time.

The present study reveals a sharp decline in bacterial load at the late stages of filarial lymphedema patients. In addition, we report an emerging antimicrobial resistance trend of S. haemolyticus and E. coli against commonly used antibiotics such as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and penicillin in communities endemic for LF in the Ahanta West District, Ghana.

A new agreement has been jointly signed by the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon and the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) to renew their commitment to strengthen the partnership to accelerate elimination of onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (LF) in the country.

This study thus suggests that the EnDPoINT care package is highly effective in reducing morbidity in people living with LF, podoconiosis, and leprosy in northern Ethiopia.

Community support during MDA and positive community-CDD relationships appear to be associated with CDDs’ personal capacity to overcome adversity. Involving communities and community leadership in the selection and support of CDDs has the potential to benefit their well-being. This study establishes the CD-RISC-25 as a useful tool for assessing the resilience of CDDs. 

Overall, results suggested that sticky black targets of horizontal rectangular shape (0.125–0.5 m²) and baited with a POCA and/or CO₂ mixture could provide a cheap practical field alternative to HLC for onchocerciasis xenomonitoring, subject to confirmation that the design has no inherent bias for certain members of the S. damnosum species complex.

This mapping exercise provides essential information to Ministry of Health in Angola to accurately plan and implement SCH and STH control activities in the upcoming years. Data also provides a useful baseline contribution for Angola to track its progress towards the 2030 NTD roadmap targets set by WHO.

Despite high MDA compliance, urogenital schistosomiasis is still prevalent among primary school children in Masasi District. 

• Urogenital schistosomiasis is endemic in Northern Tanzania.
• The overall prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was moderate.
• Infected adolescents and young adults are the S. haematobium reservoirs.
• The majority of the infected participants had light-intensity infection.
• Extension of preventive chemotherapy among adolescents and young adults is crucial.

The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium's access program, ADOPT, aims to introduce the potential new pediatric drug into routine practice in endemic countries once registered. Peter Steinmann from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and Jennifer Burrill from the SCI Foundation, who are co-leading the ADOPT program, reflect on the milestones of the past year.

Using two individual-based stochastic models, developed independently by the Imperial College London (ICL) and University of Oxford (SCHISTOX), and data from two different age-intensity profiles of infection prevalence and intensity, we determine the optimal treatment strategies to achieve elimination of transmission for Schistosoma mansoni.

Representative of the Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) and the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Dr. Aimua Ehijele, said this during an advocacy visit to the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) Oredo Local Government Area, Mr Kessington Osifo. He said the state government through the Ministry of Health will continue to intensify efforts to ensure a smooth distribution of deworming medicines, Mebendazole and Albendazole for the treatment and prevention of NTD among children aged 5 to 14 years in Edo State. According to him, the visit was carried out to intimate he HOLGA [Head of Local Government Administration] on the intention to transition deworming programme of the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and ensure government ownership so that the deworming treatment for all enrolled school-age children between the ages of 5 to 14 years will be implemented through a coordinated approach called School-Based Deworming Mass Administration of Medicines.

We're trying to focus on actually showing that we can do things to make an impact, because that will get the ball rolling and others will start to do more out here.

Government has launched a mass vaccination drive against trachoma in some parts of the country, aimed at eliminating preventable blindness among communities.“ A ten-day mass treatment campaign will run in the districts of Shamva, Bindura, Rushinga, Binga, Marondera, Nyanga, Mutasa and Gweru beginning on the 11th July of 2022 to the 20th of July 2022.

Evidence shows that MDA-azithromycin programs may be beneficial for reducing trachoma, yaws, and mortality in children < 5 years of age in certain under-resourced settings. However, there are significant potential risks that need to be considered when deciding how, when, and where to implement these programs. Robust systems to monitor benefits as well as adverse effects and antibacterial resistance are warranted in communities where MDA-azithromycin programs are implemented.

In attempting to address such challenges, a landscape analysis of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) diagnostics was conducted to provide insights for all stakeholders to support a future regulatory framework for NTD diagnostics. The inventory of commercially available diagnostics was compiled and analyzed and the global need and size of the market for each type of diagnostic was estimated. 

Multiplex peptide microarrays are a valuable tool for integrated NTDs surveillance and for screening parasites exposure in endemic areas. Species sero-reactivity observed in the study maybe indicative of exposure to the different NTDs parasites. However, although peptides with the least cross reactivity were selected there is need to validate the sero-reactivity with recombinant antigens and immune-blotting techniques such as western blotting.

Such models reduce the need for conducting surveys that are man-power intensive, says Dr S Sabesan, adjunct professor at the Vector Control Research Centre.

To avoid repeating the mistakes of the 1960s, when elimination also seemed close at hand, we need to recognise that the ‘last mile’ of elimination hinges on protecting the fragile expertise of frontline health workers.

Scaling-up of tsetse control reduced the population of tsetse by >80% across the intervention area. Even better control might be achievable by tackling invasion of flies from infested areas within and outside the current intervention area. This might involve deploying more targets, especially along smaller rivers, and extending the effective life of Tiny Targets.

The iCHORDS mentorship program aims to provide opportunities for the mentorship of early career researchers, students, and young professionals in the field of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and social and behavioural sciences – supporting the development of the next generation of NTD professionals. iCHORDS will do this by connecting mentees with experienced mentors in the field of NTDs, integrating various academic and professional institutions from around the world. The program is now running a 4-month pilot program and is seeking applications from both mentors and mentees to join the first cohort which will run from September through December 2022. We hope to pilot this with about 5 pairs.

Just 15 human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in four countries in 2021, the lowest number ever recorded. When The Carter Center started leading the global eradication campaign in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases in 21 countries. . . “Eradication is an approaching reality,” Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said. 

The goal and key requirement of the Hit-to-Lead Platform is to convert drug hits derived from Japanese compound libraries into lead series through a comprehensive assessment of chemical integrity, synthetic accessibility, scalability and novelty, functional behavior, and structure-activity relationships (SAR), as well as bio-physiochemical and absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties. Interested applicants must complete the GHIT-RFP-HTLP-2022-002_IntentToApply.docx document and return it by email to HTLPResponse@ghitfund.org by 10:00am Tokyo time on August 31, 2022 (use email subject line: GHIT-RFP-HTLP-2022-002_Intent to Apply).