Recent progress in integrated neglected tropical disease control.
Three years have passed since the publication of the first of a series of policy papers, which first highlighted the under-appreciated global burden of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and then outlined a rationale for linking vertical control strategies for the seven most prevalent NTDs in a cost-effective pro-poor package of preventive chemotherapy. Since then, global advocacy for these conditions has increased and, with it, new funds for scale-up of integrated NTD control in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent speeches by the Director General of the World Health Organization at regional meetings have referred to NTDs as important global health priorities (www.who.int/dg/speeches/2007). Outlined here is a summary of the recent progress in global efforts to integrate NTD control, with an emphasis on the challenges that lie ahead.
Hotez
Peter
P
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, the George Washington University and Sabin Vaccine Institute, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA. mtmpjh@gwumc.edu
Raff
Sophia
S
Fenwick
Alan
A
Richards
Frank
F
Molyneux
David H
DH
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents