01743nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001653002300042653003900065653002500104653001200129100001400141700001200155700001400167245008700181300001000268490000600278520125100284022001401535       2009                            d10aSub-Saharan Africa10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aIntegrated Programme10aControl1 aFenwick A1 aZhang Y1 aStoever K00aControl of the neglected tropical diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: the unmet needs.  a61-700 v13 a<p>The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa with several infecting many millions of individuals. Various integrated control programmes against up to seven NTDs are now being implemented in a few countries in sub-Saharan Africa, but the total coverage is estimated to be only a quarter of the population in need of treatment. We estimate that approximately $200+ million per year is needed to fully implement the proposed integrated NTD control programmes in the rural populations in all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and an annual sum for 5-7 years would be needed to reduce morbidity to below public health importance. To date, the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development, the British Government, Geneva Global (an international philanthropic organisation) and other donors have committed some funds for NTD control; however, more effort is needed from a broader spectrum of donors to reach our targets. Unless more funds are committed and concerted actions are taken across all the sub-Saharan African countries, NTDs will be controlled in some but still be a major public health problem for the foreseeable future in the majority of countries.</p>
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