The effects of integration on financing and coverage of neglected tropical disease programs

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Sep;89(3):407-10. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0018. Epub 2013 Jul 8.

Abstract

When the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) began to support national programs integrating their neglected tropical disease (NTD) program activities, the expected impact on individual disease-specific programs was unclear, particularly with respect to program financing and coverage. To assess this impact, data were collected by NTD program managers and their non-governmental organization (NGO) partners in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Uganda from 2 years prior and 2 years after their individual programs received funding for an integrated NTD program. Findings show that these countries experienced some increases in overall funding available for integrated NTD programs, an expansion of geographical coverage and of the number of persons treated, and the addition of treatments targeted at new diseases. What is not clear is whether these achievements can be sustained if there are decreases in external support in the future. Seeking increased government commitment or sustained external donor support should be a top priority.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Burkina Faso
  • Developing Countries
  • Humans
  • Mali
  • National Health Programs / economics*
  • National Health Programs / organization & administration
  • Neglected Diseases / economics*
  • Neglected Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Neglected Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Tropical Medicine / economics*
  • Uganda
  • United States
  • United States Agency for International Development