USAID's NTD Program

Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sierra Leone

In all countries supported by USAID’s NTD Program, country ownership of the Program is a core principle and is critical to successful implementation and long-term sustainability.

USAID support for NTD control in Sierra Leone is provided through a cooperative agreement with RTI, with a sub-grant to Helen Keller International (HKI), working alongside the Sierra Leone government and Ministry of Health. The Program also engages with a wide range of dedicated local stakeholders, including the World Health Organization – Sierra Leone; Sigtht Savers International, Plan International, the University of Sierra Leone, the Liverpool NTD Support Center; and the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC).

USAID’s support for integrated NTD control in Sierra Leone began with the launch of a national stakeholders meeting in March 2008. Results of activities carried out with United States Congressional funding in Sierra Leone to date* include:

• Mass Drug Administration
  • First round of treatments was initiated in:
    • October 2008-November 2008 in 12 districts
• Treatment
  • An estimated 7 million treatments have been provided since 2008
  • 3.87 million people were treated in October 2008-November 2008
• Mapping
  • Mapping was conducted for trachoma (blinding eye infection), schistosomiasis (snail fever) and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (hookworm, roundworm, whipworm) in 2008
• Training
  • 31,181 people were trained to deliver integrated treatment in 2008

Upcoming Program Activities
The Program will continue to sponsor the above mentioned key activities. In the upcoming year, it is expected that through the Program:

• Approximately 650,000 school-aged children will be treated in April-May 2009 for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis

*Updated February 2009