ENDING NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs

july 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Forward from NTD Special Envoys...... 2

Overview...... 6

Snapshots of Progress...... 8

Reducing Extreme Poverty: NTDs and the Post-2015 Development Agenda...... 10

The London Declaration: Changing the NTD Landscape and Engaging New Partners...... 12

Opportunities for Long-term Impact...... 14

Elimination and Beyond...... 16

List of Abbreviations...... 17

Appendix...... 19

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 1 H.E. John A. Kufuor President of the Republic of Ghana (2001-2009)

Forward from NTD Special Envoys

As a head of state, I witnessed how the progress and When I was invited to serve as an NTD Special prosperity of my country was directly impacted by Envoy, I had no hesitations in taking on the role. I the health and well-being of its people. My policies am convinced that the success of sustainable, long- and programs as the President of Ghana prioritized term development around the globe is dependent a broad development agenda including education, on our ability to halt and reverse the disfiguring, primary healthcare, water and sanitation, and, more debilitating and deadly effects of NTDs. I applaud specifically, the elimination of Guinea worm, which the inclusion of NTDs in the final report of the was achieved in 2010. United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on recommended goals and targets for the It was only later, however, that I learned about post-2015 development agenda and welcome the the full impact of neglected tropical diseases NTD-related resolutions recently passed by the (NTDs), a broad group of parasitic, bacterial and World Health Assembly, Organization of American viral that afflict poor and marginalized States and African Union. I hope this growing communities around the developing world. These momentum will help us create a world free from the diseases undermine our efforts to achieve the long-present threat of NTDs. Millennium Development Goals, trapping poor and marginalized communities in a cycle of poverty. For this reason, I committed to joining the fight against these diseases as an NTD Special Envoy with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases.

2 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs H.E. Alvaro Arzú Irigoyen President of the Republic of Guatemala (1996-2000)

During my presidency in Guatemala, I saw first- strategy is linked to the national plan for reducing hand the close connections between poverty, health, child malnutrition. As NTDs, such as intestinal worm education, and water and sanitation, and recognized infections, rob their victims of vital nutrients, linking the invaluable need for strong political leadership the two plans is essential for ensuring progress toward, and commitment to prioritize issues like health and and achievement, of both goals. children within the national agenda. What I did not know though, is that across the Latin American As we all look toward creating lasting, sustainable and Caribbean region, more than 100 million lives development for marginalized populations by con- are still threatened by neglected tropical diseases trolling and eliminating NTDs, we must also build (NTDs), including almost 50 million children. the political will required to achieve it. I am happy to report that political support for NTDs is increasing in When I joined the Global Network for Neglected the Latin American and Caribbean region, and NTDs Tropical Diseases as an NTD Special Envoy, I was are becoming more closely aligned with poverty surprised to learn that NTDs are still a significant reduction strategies, signaling to the world and the challenge to our region’s development and hinder leaders of our region that we are committed to making our efforts to reach the Millennium Development NTDs a public health issue of the past. Goals. I also learned that interventions to combat NTDs are readily available, mostly donated and can I am proud to be part of this effort by serving as an help break the appalling cycle of poverty and disease. NTD Special Envoy.

I was thrilled recently to see NTD and nutrition efforts working together in Guatemala’s national NTD plan. Launched in August 2013 by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, the national NTD

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 3 H.E. Ricardo Lagos Escobar President of the Republic of Chile (2000-2006)

Forward from NTD Special Envoys

While serving as the President of Chile, I recognized sanitation, and economic development. Mass drug the importance of finding cost-effective approaches administrations for NTDs can be integrated with to my nation’s public health challenges. However, it multiple interventions, such as the delivery of bed wasn’t until recently that I learned about the simple nets, vitamin A or immunizations, to achieve greater and inexpensive solutions that exist for controlling cost-effectiveness. While significant coverage gaps and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), remain, some countries are beginning to implement making these programs some of the most cost- successful programs; for example, Nicaragua and effective health interventions available. In addition to Honduras are now integrating deworming as part of treating and preventing NTDs, these programs help their national immunization weeks. increase school attendance, improve maternal and infant health, and support economic development. NTDs must be at the top of the agenda for national Successfully combating NTDs is essential for governments and ministries of health, social accelerating efforts to achieve the current Millennium development, education and finance if we are to Development Goals and the goals of the upcoming meet our global and regional development targets, post-2015 development agenda. and particularly the World Health Organization’s goal to control and eliminate the 10 most common The prevalence of NTDs in the Latin American and NTDs by 2020. Caribbean region is an indicator that the standard compartmentalized approach to development must give way to more integrated methods. The impact of NTDs extends across broader development areas to include nutrition, education, water and

4 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs Dr. Mirta Roses Periago Director of the Pan American Health Organization (2003-2013)

While serving as Director of the Pan American regions. To help overcome this hurdle, the other NTD Health Organization from 2003 to 2013, I witnessed Special Envoys and I are reaching out to various global firsthand both the burden of neglected tropical and regional policy bodies to encourage South-South diseases (NTDs) in the Latin American and collaboration and bilateral support for neighboring Caribbean region and the tremendous progress that countries in need of technical assistance. has been made in efforts to control and eliminate them. Although 100 million people in the region Although the political support for NTD control and are currently infected with one or more NTDs, we elimination programs around the world is growing, have made great strides and are closer than ever to we must ensure it translates into successfully reaching achieving elimination of the most common NTDs. the goals outlined in the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs. Advocacy and education are essential In July 2013, I was thrilled when Colombia components needed to accomplish our goals; became the first country in the Americas to receive considering the excess of misinformation, myths, certification from the World Health Organization complacency and neglect surrounding these diseases, for eliminating . Also noteworthy is there is a strong need for us to turn NTDs into an that as of December 2013, 17 countries in the Latin issue that is everyone’s concern. American and Caribbean region have either launched their NTD plans or have drafts and are working to We will have to continue to work hard to maintain finalize them with the support of the Pan American the momentum behind the NTD movement, but Health Organization and other partners. I do believe that together, we can reach our goal to defeat NTDs. The main challenges remaining are primarily in relation to the funding gaps that exist to guarantee the successful implementation of these NTD plans, as well as national plans in the African and Asian

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 5 OVERVIEW

On October 23, 2013, the Global Network for education, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Neglected Tropical Diseases (Global Network), programs was also addressed, as well as the need to the World Bank Group and the Bill & Melinda ensure that the post-2015 development goals remain Gates Foundation convened a roundtable in Berlin, focused on reducing extreme poverty and include Germany with key government and global health combating NTDs as a key priority. partners to discuss the next steps in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The conversation also focused on the financing channels that exist for donors to engage in the fight The meeting came at a pivotal moment in global health against NTDs — directly through governments discussions, following a recovery from the recent (bilaterally or multilaterally), regional technical global economic recession that heavily impacted and coordinating agencies, or civil society and the many donors. The roundtable sought to facilitate an private sector. All three of these channels represent open discussion on how to best address challenges in strategic avenues for closing the approximately scaling up NTD control and elimination activities in U.S. $220 million annual funding gap that must be light of significant changes in donor priorities. The addressed in order to reach key NTD control and potential to integrate NTD efforts with nutrition, elimination goals.

“I share your view that poverty reduction and the elimination of NTDs go hand-in-hand.”

Mr. Ban Ki-moon United Nations Secretary-General Letter to NTD Special Envoys October 2013

6 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs While 700 million people received treatment for one the Global Network’s efforts to engage with donors on or more NTDs in 2012, less than 40 percent of the NTDs, and briefly underlines the various channels 1.4 billion people in need of treatment worldwide that exist for partners to join or further contribute to received all the drugs they needed. The discussion NTD control and elimination efforts. highlighted the importance and need for expanding treatment programs to reach those left behind, along with new investments for improved tools This report recommends the following actions (diagnostics, drugs and ) for NTDs. for partners, from both donor and endemic countries, to strengthen the NTD agenda: The roundtable meeting concluded with general • Recognize the impact of NTDs as a key consensus that controlling and eliminating NTDs underlying constraint to global economic must be made a global priority and an integral part growth, poverty and inequality reduction, of the broader poverty reduction agenda. Because educational achievement and nutrition. the impact of NTDs stretches far beyond the health sector, controlling and eliminating these diseases is • Institutionalize NTD control and critical to successfully improving the economic and elimination efforts in foreign policy, social well-being of more than one billion people development and poverty reduction living in marginalized communities around the word. agendas. As such, treatments for NTDs must be integrated • Invest in and prioritize nationally-led into current development programs and included integrated NTD plans by providing in efforts to achieve the Millennium Development political support, reliable long-term Goals (MDGs) and the goals and targets of the financing and technical assistance. upcoming post-2015 development agenda. • Promote the fight against NTDs in international and regional forums and As a follow up to the Development Agency Roundtable, support the inclusion of NTD-specific this report offers success stories on recent integrated goals and targets in the post-2015 NTD efforts, explores how NTDs are related to the development agenda. anticipated goals of the post-2015 agenda, highlights

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 7 SNAPSHOTS Of Progress

BURUNDI A decade of violence that began in 1993 shattered In the first year, more than 1.8 million Burundians the nation of Burundi, claiming 300,000 lives and received medicine to treat NTDs; after four years displacing nearly one million people. Poverty rates and eight integrated MDAs, over 31 million safe and rose, with the number of people living on less than a effective treatments had been delivered throughout U.S. $1 per day increasing from 35 percent in 1992 to Burundi to more than three million people. more than 67 percent in 2005. Not unexpectedly, the The prevalence rate of intestinal worm infections NTD burden increased in this environment. decreased significantly and decreased By 2005, in some districts, parasitic infections such from 6.4 percent to 3.6 percent, bringing it below the as schistosomiasis and hookworm affected over public health hazard threshold. Blinding trachoma 40 percent of the population. While the African was mapped, and partners are now working to provide Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) sight-saving interventions. In addition, thousands worked with the Ministry of Health to control of community health workers and laboratory onchocerciasis (also know as river blindness), technicians were trained to identify NTD infections Burundi lacked the necessary health system and and administer drugs to fight them. infrastructure to address other NTDs. Burundi’s government was central in this effort, In 2007, with funding from the Legatum Foundation, paying for the salaries and office space of the NTD an alliance formed between the Global Network, the team, refraining from taxing the imported drugs, Ministry of Health, CBM International, Geneva Global adopting a national NTD policy and developing a and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative to build on five-year plan. With a government committed to APOC’s ongoing efforts. The partnership implemented NTD control and elimination, millions of Burundians the nation’s first mass drug administration (MDA). have the promise of a better future.

8 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs BIHAR, INDIA CHIAPAS, MEXICO In Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, millions Chiapas, one of the poorest states in Mexico, has an of children are at risk of becoming infected with exceptionally high burden of NTDs compared to intestinal worms. Intestinal worms often make other areas in the region due to its relatively dispersed children too sick to attend school; in fact, research has and marginalized population. An estimated 30 shown that school-based deworming reduces school percent of indigenous residents in Chiapas live in absenteeism by as much as 25 percent. To combat remote settlements with poor access to potable water these NTDs, Deworm the World, a non-governmental and sanitation. Of the four million people in Chiapas, development organization (NGDO), partnered with more than 300,000 are at risk for NTD infections. the Bihar State Departments of Health and Education to assist the government in mapping and treating intestinal worm infections in children across the state. The partnership resulted in one of the largest school- based NTD programs ever conducted. The program successfully provided deworming treatment for 17 million school-aged children in over 67,000 schools in early 2011. Nearly 140,000 teachers and 20,000 health workers were trained to help deliver medicine. The Global Network, Inter-American Development The efficient use of India’s education infrastructure Bank (IDB) and Pan American Health Organization was critical for making this program a success. partnered to support a demonstration project in Teachers, in particular, were an essential component Chiapas that goes beyond short-term curative of the delivery mechanism. measures for NTDs to include long-term solutions that tackle the social and environmental determinants of NTD transmission. The initiative worked together with the local and federal governments and private sector to integrate prevention and control activities for NTDs such as trachoma, leishmaniasis, and intestinal worm infections. Most importantly, the project combined health interventions and access to clean water with other initiatives, such as improved primary care, conditional cash transfers, education and housing to comprehensively address NTDs. Over 130,000 people were treated for NTDs, including nearly 4,000 students from six schools in endemic areas who also participated in NTD education activities such as hand and face washing workshops, games and dramatic enactments in local languages. Given its integrated approach to incorporating NTD Bihar now continues to improve the health and program activities into existing government initiatives, education of millions of children through annual the successful Chiapas program will serve as a model to deworming campaigns and serves as a model for help guide the development of a broader NTD agenda other communities interested in implementing throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region school-based deworming programs. and beyond.

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 9 REDUCING EXTREME Poverty: NTDs and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

NTDs perpetuate poverty and inequality by causing 2014 zero draft of the Proposed Goals and Targets blindness, malnutrition, anemia, and disfigurement, on Sustainable Development for the Post-2015 and by preventing children from attending school Development Agenda. These are all important steps and keeping adults from working. As a result, NTDs in ensuring that the fight against NTDs remains a severely hinder efforts to reach the current MDGs high priority. and will impede global efforts to achieve the goals of the post-2015 development agenda. Successfully controlling and eliminating the most common NTDs requires a coordinated global effort Treating NTDs is extremely cost-effective, contributes and ensuring that NTDs remain on the next agenda is to the success of broader development goals and does a critical step. The Global Network continues to urge not require stand-alone programs to have a substantial government leaders to support the inclusion of health impact. Successful public-private partnerships have goals and targets for NTDs during Member State made treating NTDs extremely inexpensive, and negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda. several partners have already succeeded in integrating NTD treatments into their education, infrastructure Key cross-cutting issues between NTDs and and WASH programs. For example, in April 2014, other development areas include: WaterAid announced that it will more closely link its WASH programs to prevent intestinal worm infections Nutrition: Controlling NTDs is an important part in order to pursue a more integrated approach to of improving nutrition. One in five children in health and development. developing countries is underweight, and NTDs can exacerbate the effects of undernourishment and The NTD stakeholder community applauds the UN minimize the impact of food aid. Schistosomiasis and Secretary-General’s High Level Panel for including intestinal worm infections often lead to anemia and recommended health goals for NTD control and malnutrition. Even when children and adults have elimination in its May 2013 final report on the enough food to eat, these diseases can rob their bodies post-2015 agenda; the World Health Assembly of the nutrients they need. Together, schistosomiasis for calling additional attention to NTDs in its May and intestinal worms infect more than one billion 2014 resolution on health in the post-2015 agenda; people, keeping children out of school, preventing and the UN’s Open Working Group on Sustainable parents from working and trapping generations in a Development Goals for including NTDs in its June cycle of poverty and disease.

10 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs Primary education: NTDs prevent children from Maternal health: NTDs such as hookworm attending and performing well in school. More than and schistosomiasis are leading causes of anemia, a half a billion children are chronically ill from one condition with serious implications for pregnant or more NTDs, and many are not able to regularly women and newborns. Anemia causes low birth attend school as a result. Likewise, children who must weight, infection, miscarriage and sometimes death stay home to care for parents disabled by NTDs often of the mother. Currently, 20 percent of maternal do not receive a proper education. Treating intestinal deaths in Africa can be attributed to anemia. worm infections using the MDA approach has been shown to significantly decrease school absenteeism HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB: Individuals with NTDs and can prevent diminished cognitive development, are at a higher risk of contracting, or not recovering allowing children to grow to their full potential. from, other diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, because NTDs weaken the immune Gender equality: NTDs disproportionately affect system and make it difficult for the body to fight off women and girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, female other diseases. Women suffering from FGS are three genital schistosomiasis (FGS) causes severe pain, times as likely to contract HIV. Integrating programs bleeding and lesions in more than 16 million women to control multiple infectious diseases simultaneously and girls, and women are more likely than men improves the success of all program outcomes. to be blinded by trachoma. The long-term socio- economic impact that NTDs impose on women Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): NTDs are and girls is severe; scarring and disfigurement from often spread by drinking contaminated water and NTDs, such as FGS and lymphatic filariasis, also have eating food that was not properly washed, and areas negative social effects and can prevent young women with stagnant water are breeding grounds for insects from marrying or can even be grounds for spousal that carry NTDs, notably mosquitoes that transmit abandonment. lymphatic filariasis. Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are easily spread through contact Child health: Malnourishment and anemia, two with contaminated water and soil in communities common side effects of NTDs, have been shown without access to sanitation facilities. Additionally, to reduce the physical and intellectual growth of trachoma is primarily spread when the eye discharge children and weaken their immune systems, leaving from an infected person is shared through contact children vulnerable to other serious diseases. with hands, clothing, or other personal effects, or through transmission by flies.

“USAID was honored to participate in the London Declaration and we are committed to doing our part to achieve the 2020 goals for NTDs.”

Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator Letter to the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases January 2013

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 11 THE LONDON DECLARATION: Changing the NTD Landscape and Engaging New Partners

In January 2012, an unprecedented group of partners signed the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Together with its NTD Special Envoys, the Diseases, pledging new and extended commitments Global Network is working to: toward the control and elimination of 10 NTDs by 2020 • Encourage key bilateral and multilateral aid in alignment with the World Health Organization’s institutions and international and regional (WHO) targets. The leaders of 13 pharmaceutical policy platforms to include NTDs in their companies, the governments of the United States, development agendas and dedicate resources United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, the Bill & to NTD control and elimination efforts. Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank Group and other global health organizations united at the launch • Support current NTD donors in main- event in support of the London Declaration goals.* taining and increasing their commitments to achieve the 2020 goals. In April 2014, original and new London Declaration • Identify and engage with new NTD donors, partners met again to review what had been accomplished highlighting the links between NTDs since the signing of the London Declaration and to and other development priorities such focus new energy on how to fill the remaining financial, as WASH, nutrition and education, and, technical and policy gaps. The meeting was headlined by whenever possible, integrating programs the extraordinary announcement of U.S. $240 million across sectors. in new funding in support of the London Declaration goals; however, there is still much work to be done to • Encourage endemic country governments successfully reach these goals by 2020. In particular, the to prioritize and invest in NTD control and NTD community needs to find resources to bridge an elimination efforts within their national existing U.S. $220 million annual funding gap. health and development strategies.

In pursuit of its mission to raise the awareness and resources necessary to reach the London Declaration The Global Network has found that governments are goals, the Global Network engages in high-level typically enthusiastic about the goals of the London advocacy with bilateral development aid agencies, Declaration, clearly recognize the links between NTDs parliamentarians, heads of state, ministries of health and other development issues, and see opportunities and finance, and other government agencies. to align NTDs with their own programmatic priorities.

12 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs In the past, many countries have increased funding and, as a result, potential partners are postponing for disease-specific NTD research and development, decisions regarding investing in NTD control and particularly through their domestic research elimination until future budget cycles. institutions, and have supported APOC. However, The Global Network strives to overcome this many countries with long-standing international challenge by identifying and promoting the financial development strategies have not yet taken up NTD channels that exist for NTDs, which are outlined in treatment integration, including the MDA approach, the next section. Reaching the 2020 goals espoused despite its recognized role as the standard tool in the in the London Declaration does not require a new NTD control and elimination framework. structure similar to the Global Fund or even the Encouraging donors to prioritize NTDs is challenging, creation of new programs; instead, relatively modest given that many aid agencies do not have the capacity contributions from many donors and program for or interest in vertical NTD programs. In addition, integration will sufficiently bridge the funding gap the lingering effects of the recent global financial crisis and significantly improve the lives and prospects of have left national budgets stretched and inflexible more than a billion people.

*A copy of the London Declaration on NTDs can be found at the end of this report.

“The London Declaration continues to be the central rallying point for partners engaged in the fight against NTDs and offers the global community an opportunity to make a real difference in poor and marginalized communities around the world.” Dr. Neeraj Mistry, Managing Director Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, in response to the meeting “Uniting to Combat NTDs: A Conversation on Progress” April 2014

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 13 OPPORTUNITIES for Long-term Impact

POLICY FINANCING OPTIONS Policymakers have a pivotal role to play in the success Financial and technical assistance from donors and of NTD programs and must continue to build and regional-level bodies is necessary to ensure that exercise the political will required to adequately country-led national NTD plans are successfully address these diseases. Since the signing of the London implemented. Donors can also strengthen Declaration, major resolutions on NTD control and national plans by integrating NTD control and elimination have been passed by the World Health elimination activities into their current health Assembly, African Union, Pan American Health system strengthening, maternal, newborn and child Organization, Organization of American States and health, nutrition and WASH programming in NTD- WHO Regional Committee for Africa. endemic areas.

Multilateral institutions, including regional develop- Policymakers in both endemic and non-endemic ment banks, serve as an effective avenue for financing countries can take steps to prioritize NTD control and elimination efforts by: NTD programs. For example, IDB has leveraged loans and grants from public and private donors to support • Issuing public policy statements that call NTD control and elimination goals in Latin American attention to NTDs in mainstream foreign and Caribbean countries. WHO’s regional offices policy, economic and development provide technical assistance to endemic-country discussions. national governments and are working to improve • Highlighting the importance of NTD regional coordination and expand advocacy and control and elimination in G7/8, G20, resource mobilization efforts. BRICS and regional platform statements. • Institutionalizing NTD control and NGDOs and the private sector also play a critical elimination efforts in bilateral foreign role in leading NTD interventions in endemic areas policy, development, health and poverty by providing technical assistance to government reduction agendas. programs, building capacity within national • Ensuring that specific goals and targets ministries, participating in operational research for NTDs are included in the post-2015 that influences program strategies and donating development agenda. key drugs needed to fight the most common NTDs. NGDOs also represent a valuable opportunity to

14 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs leverage private sector and philanthropic support, partnerships in Africa and has reduced the infection which are significant sources of NGDO operating rate of onchocerciasis in target countries by 73 funds. As national control and elimination percent since 1995. The APOC Trust Fund attracts efforts continue to scale up, the commitment and a wide range of support from national governments, participation of NGDOs and the private sector in foundations, and the private sector. supporting NTD programs will be critical. In 2016, APOC will transition into the new The APOC Trust Fund, managed by the World Bank, Programme for the Elimination of Neglected has dispersed U.S. $1.25 billion since its inception Diseases in Africa (PENDA). In light of the co- in 1974 (originally as the Onchocerciasis Control endemic nature of onchocerciasis and lymphatic Programme); funding is pooled from a variety filariasis in Africa, PENDA will use best lessons of donors to support sustainable, community- learned from APOC to simultaneously target both based operational programs. APOC is one of the diseases and will work to eliminate lymphatic most successful health-focused public-private filariasis by 2020 and onchocerciasis by 2025.

“Tackling these diseases in a coordinated way saves lives and money, and requires expanding lessons that we have learned from our efforts to eliminate river blindness — first, a simple community health system approach, and second, partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for free supply of drugs.” Dr. Jim Kim, President World Bank Group Opening remarks at “Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases: Translating the London Declaration into Action” November 2012

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 15 ELIMINATION and Beyond

Moving forward, global development partners must initiate or strengthen their contributions to the fight Specifically, the Global Network recommends against NTDs in order to eliminate these diseases that partners from both donor and endemic of poverty as public health threats. The rapid countries: development of nationally-led, integrated NTD • Recognize the impact of NTDs as a key plans (more than 70 countries now have plans), underlying constraint to global economic repurposing of APOC to include additional NTDs, growth, poverty and inequality reduction, integration of programs and ongoing discussions educational achievement and nutrition. on the post-2015 development agenda offer a wide range of opportunities to address these diseases and • Institutionalize NTD control and work toward greater development outcomes. elimination efforts in foreign policy, development and poverty reduction agendas. The Global Network urges development partners • Invest in and prioritize nationally-led NTD around the world — from donors to endemic plans by providing political support, reliable countries and corporations to NGDOs — to address long-term financing and technical assistance. NTDs as part of their plans to sustainably improve • Promote the fight against NTDs in health, eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. international and regional forums and support the inclusion of NTD-specific goals and targets in the post-2015 development agenda.

“We need sustained support from all stakeholders to fill the financing gaps, which will help ensure that well-designed national NTD plans are fully implemented and reach the 2020 goals.” Dr. Luis Sambo WHO Regional Director for Africa Remarks at the Development Agency Roundtable October 2013

16 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs List of ACRONYMS AND Abbreviations

APOC MDG African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control Millennium Development Goal

BRICS NGDO Forum composed of Brazil, Russia, India, Non-governmental development organization China and South Africa NTD FGS Neglected tropical disease Female genital schistosomiasis PENDA G7/8 Programme for the Elimination of Neglected Group of 7/8 Diseases in Africa

G20 USAID Group of 20 United States Agency for International Development IDB Inter-American Development Bank WASH Water, sanitation and hygiene MDA Mass drug administration WHO World Health Organization

As always, the Global Network welcomes dialogue with other organizations and is open to consultations or meetings with government, civil society and the private sector. For more information, please visit www.globalnetwork.org or contact Michelle Brooks, Policy Director for the Global Network, at [email protected].

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 17 18 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs APPENDIX

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES 19 ABOUT THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases is an advocacy initiative of the Sabin Institute that works in partnership with international agencies, governments, academic institutions, corporations, non-governmental development organizations and the general public to raise the awareness, political will and funding necessary to control and eliminate the seven most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2020. For more information, please visit www.globalnetwork.org.

ABOUT SABIN VACCINE INSTITUTE Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization of scientists, researchers, and advocates dedicated to reducing needless human suffering caused by vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases. Sabin works with governments, leading public and private organizations, and academic institutions to provide solutions for some of the world’s most pervasive health challenges. Since its founding in 1993 in honor of the oral developer, Dr. Albert B. Sabin, the Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to control, treat and eliminate these diseases by developing new vaccines, advocating use of existing vaccines and promoting increased access to affordable medical treatments. For more information please visit www.sabin.org.

20 Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases Opportunities to Support the Control and Elimination of NTDs CREDITS Photography: Cover photo: Mo Scarpelli / pg. 1 Esther Havens / pg. 2 Gregory Jones / pg. 3 Alvaro Arzú Irigoyen / pg. 4 Sabino Aguad / pg. 5 Pan American Health Organization / pg. 6 Mo Scarpelli (top), United Nations (bottom) / pg. 7 Mo Scarpelli / pg. 8 Mo Scarpelli / pg. 9 Esther Havens (left), IDB (right) / pg. 10 Esther Havens (top), Mo Scarpelli (bottom) / pg. 11 USAID / pg. 12 Olivier Asselin / pg. 13 Mo Scarpelli (top), Daniel Salvatori; (bottom) / pg. 14 Mo Scarpelli / pg. 15 Basil D Soufi (top), Jack Gruber (bottom) / pg. 15 Mo Scarpelli (top), WHO - Regional Office for Africa (bottom) / pg. 17 Olivier Asselin / pg. 18 IDB (top left), Mo Scarpelli (top right), Esther Havens (middle), WHO/P. Virot (bottom) Graphic Design: Lori Paulsen