Neglected Tropical Diseases activities give le « ton” in the capital of the Balazans

USAID through, RTI and Helen Keller International (HKI) has decided to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).  Parasitic diseases are a public health problem in Mali. 

The surveys of prevalence carried out in the country made it possible to carry out the cartographies which showed that the MTN are distributed on all the extent of the territory Among these diseases, we can retain: Trachoma, Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Schiotosomiasis and géohelminthiasis.

These affections, having suffered a long time from the lack of consequent financing for their eradication, are known as "Neglected Tropical diseases(NTD)", which is to be corrected spirit gradually. The medical authorities, conscious of the negative impact of these diseases on the health and production of the hard layers, set up different programs for reducing the impact of these diseases on the populations. They are the following programs:

  • blindness,
  • schistosomiasis and géohelminthiasis
  • the lymphatic filariasis and
  • the onchocerciasis.

This political willpower moreover was still embodied by the National Health Direction through  the implementation of a National Strategy of Fight against Neglected Tropical diseases 2007 - 2011. This national strategy through this financial support of the USAID via RTI and HKI, wants to be a strong signal for the elimination of the NTD in Mali. Helen Keller International is the financial manager of this contribution and work with the DNS through the various programs previously quoted for the realization of the activities. Thus within the framework of its Operational Plan 2008, the strategy envisages the mass chemotherapy of the whole of the areas of Mali in two rounds. The first will treat the areas of Ségou, Mopti and Bamako from December 07 to March 2008. The second treatment from April to September 2008 will treat the whole of the other areas with knowing: Kidal, Tombouctou, Gao, Kayes, Koulikoro and Sikasso.

NTD activities debuted on 14 February in the Balazans capital (Segou) with the training of chief medical officers and NTD focal points in the eight health districts of Segou.  During the two days of training, participants received a top of the line training given by national coordinators for Schistosomiasis and Lymphatic Filariasis programs with technical assistance from the blindness program deputy coordinator.  At the end of the training, the chief medical officers and focal points will conduct training in their own districts with “chefs de poste medicaux” who will in turn train community distributors.

The highlight of the training was without a doubt « the advocacy hour” which was held the second day.  Administrative, community, political, religious leaders as well as civil society were in attendance during this session.  The session highlighted the impact of NTDs on family, society and country as a whole.  It also focused on the role of these leaders as agents of change in combating these diseases in their own communities

Last updated: Friday, April 4,2008