• NTDs IN ETHIOPIA

The burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Ethiopia, and opportunities for integrated control

and elimination

Kebede Deribe et al.

Abstract below; full text,

http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/pdf/1756-3305-5-240.pdf 

Background

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic parasitic diseases and related

conditions that are the most common diseases among the 2·7 billion people globally living on

less than US$2 per day. In response to the growing challenge of NTDs, Ethiopia is preparing

to launch a NTD Master Plan. The purpose of this review is to underscore the burden of

NTDs in Ethiopia, highlight the state of current interventions, and suggest ways forward.

Results

This review indicates that NTDs are significant public health problems in Ethiopia. From the

analysis reported here, Ethiopia stands out for having the largest number of NTD cases

following Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ethiopia is estimated to have the

highest burden of trachoma, podoconiosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis in sub-Saharan Africa

(SSA), the second highest burden in terms of ascariasis, leprosy and visceral leishmaniasis,

and the third highest burden of hookworm. Infections such as schistosomiasis, trichuriasis,

lymphatic filariasis and rabies are also common. A third of Ethiopians are infected with

ascariasis, one quarter is infected with trichuriasis and one in eight Ethiopians lives with

hookworm or is infected with trachoma. However, despite these high burdens of infection,

the control of most NTDs in Ethiopia is in its infancy. In terms of NTD control achievements,

Ethiopia reached the leprosy elimination target of 1 case/10,000 population in 1999. No cases

of human African trypanosomiasis have been reported since 1984. Guinea worm eradication

is in its final phase. The Onchocerciasis Control Program has been making steady progress

since 2001. A national blindness survey was conducted in 2006 and the trachoma program

has kicked off in some regions. Lymphatic Filariasis, podoconiosis and rabies mapping are

underway.

Conclusion

Ethiopia bears a significant burden of NTDs compared to other SSA countries. To achieve

success in integrated control of NTDs, integrated mapping, rapid scale up of interventions

and operational research into co implementation of intervention packages will be crucial.