This week, actor Scott Wolf and Columnist Michael Gerson each gave a personal account of their recent trip to Senegal where they observed first-hand how U.S. Government (USG) funding is successfully fighting the scourge of malaria.  The event, hosted by the Malaria No More Policy Center (MNMPC), included remarks by Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)—Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)—and, allowed Hill staff, Administration officials, and global health policy stakeholders to acknowledge the achievements to date and how important USG funding is for on-going malaria research and control efforts.

Wolf and Gerson accompanied former MNMPC Managing Director, Mark Green (who has just joined the U.S. Global Leadership Coaltion as its new Senior Director) on the trip and were invigorated by the Senegalese people they met on the ground.  NTDs were not forgotten at the event and Global Network Managing Director Neeraj Mistry had a chance to chat with both Rep. Fortenberry and Rep. Payne to thank them for their support and interest in NTDs. Global Network plans to host a series of region specific NTD congressional briefings through the Malaria and NTD Caucus this year.

The March 1^st reception was supported by ONE, Friends of the Global Fight, World Vision, Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa and the Malaria Vaccine Initiative, and Global Network.

Read more about this event here.

Today, in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, an overview was presented of the first three years of USAID’s Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Control Program and its success in developing nationally integrated NTD treatment programs with full, national-scale potential.   The results of the USAID program affirmed that targeting elimination or control of the seven most common NTDs collectively—lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthes (roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm), and trachoma—increased progressively the number of people treated for NTDs each year (98 million), increased the dissemination of treatments (222 million), and supported the training of community-based health workers or individual program implementers (over 200,000).

USAID began its NTD Control Program in FY 2006 in five countries with an initial appropriation of $15 million.  The program received $65 million from Congress in FY 2010 and has continued to grow in stature with plans to expand to 21 countries in FY 2011.   The article in this month’s Journal, highlights the need to empower national governments to develop integrated NTD control programs, and whenever possible, to work within existing health service delivery platforms.   It also recognizes the significance and necessity of NTD mapping before successful NTD programs can be implemented, the value of the donations from the pharmaceutical industry, and the role of NGO partners.

Overall, the article reveals how the USAID NTD program has exceeded expectations.   That the possibility of scaling-up NTD control and elimination efforts through integration is effective, and that efficiencies in operations can be achieved through co-implementation of NTD treatments in schools, among community networks and existing health service delivery platforms.    Going forward, it also appears that greater gains may be possible when integrated NTD control and elimination programs are combined with other development efforts—such as water and sanitation or malaria control activities—and, this would be a true win for the over 1 billion impoverished people suffering from these diseases. 

Read the full press release here.