On June 12-14, 2013 during the National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Symposium, held in Addis Adaba,  Ethiopia launched their National Master Plan on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – becoming the sixth country in Africa to do so.  The symposium adopted the motto “end the neglect, integrate, scale-up and sustain” as a guiding principle for their efforts to control and eliminate NTDs by the 2020 deadline.

His Excellency Dr. Keseteberhan Admassau, Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, presented the plan to an audience of more than 400 participants representing federal government offices, regional health bureaus and international partners, WHO, USAID, DFID, World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The objectives of the symposium were to officially launch the National Master plan for the prevention and control of NTDs; review challenges and current achievements; and, evaluate current opportunities for government and relevant stakeholders to address NTDs.

One in six people in the world suffer from NTDS and Africa holds about half of the global burden. Among the African countries, Ethiopia has one of the highest burdens of NTDs. These high rates contribute to greater rates of malnutrition, disability, deficits in physical and cognitive growth and higher-risk pregnancies. In Ethiopia, it is estimated that more than 9 million cases of trachoma, a blinding disease, occur in children. NTDs thrive in conditions of unclean water, poor sanitation and limited access to basic health care, as is the case in many areas across Ethiopia.

Ethiopia also made history at the symposium in becoming the first country to release a Declaration for the Control and Elimination of NTDs. The declaration acknowledges the pledges and commitments towards the fight to end NTDs in Ethiopia. To read the official Addis Ababa Declaration on NTDs in Ethiopia, click here.  For more information on the symposium, please visit WHO’s website.