title: Towards effective prevention and control of helminth neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region through multi-disease and multi-sectoral interventions.
abstract: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause serious health, social and economic burdens in the countries of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. Among the NTDs, helminth infections are particularly prominent with regard to the number of infected individuals and health impact. Co-endemicity is common among impoverished and marginalized populations. To achieve effective and sustainable control of helminth NTDs, a deeper understanding of the social-ecological systems governing their endemicity and strategies beyond preventive chemotherapy are required to tackle the multiple causes of infection and re-infection. We discuss the feasibility of implementing multi-disease, multi-sectoral intervention packages for helminth NTDs in the Western Pacific Region. After reviewing the main determinants for helminth NTD endemicity and current control strategies, key control activities that involve or concern other programmes within and beyond the health sector are discussed. A considerable number of activities that have an impact on more than one helminth NTD are identified in a variety of sectors, suggesting an untapped potential for synergies. We also highlight the challenges of multi-sectoral collaboration, particularly of involving non-health sectors. We conclude that multi-sectoral collaboration for helminth NTD control is feasible if the target diseases and sectors are carefully selected. To do so, an incentive analysis covering key stakeholders in the sectors is crucial, and the disease-control strategies need to be well understood. The benefits of multi-disease, multi-sectoral approaches could go beyond immediate health impacts by contributing to sustainable development, raising educational attainment, increasing productivity and reducing health inequities.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ehrenberg
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nealon
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Padmasiri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aratchige
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Division of Combating Communicable Diseases, P.O. Box 2932, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Chitsavang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chanthavisouk
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Office, National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, 1000 Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Leda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1232, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Tayphasavanh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fengthong
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: peter.steinmann@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steinmann
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D044362:Australasia; D002681:China; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006376:Helminths; D006801:Humans; D008986:Mongolia; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017150:Public Sector; D014330:Tropical Medicine; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Control; Helminth infection; Multi-disease; Multi-sectoral; Neglected tropical diseases; Prevention