Control of NTDs in Tanzania
A 12 year partnership between
CNTD and the Ministry of Health
& Social Welfare of the United
Republic of Tanzania
Professor Moses Bockarie
Director
Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, LSTM
United Republic of Tanzania
High burden of NTDs
Schistosomiasis
Soil transmitted helminths
Lymphatic filariasis
Onchocerciasis
Trachoma
Human African Trypanosomiasis
Rabies
Tick borne Relapsing fevers
Echinococcus (hydatid)
Taeniosis (cysticercosis)
Plague
TANZANIA NTD CONTROL PROGRAMME
44m people
947,300sq km
5 PCT NTDs
>10 Case Management NTDs
Trachoma mapping incomplete
37.4 million people (87% of the
population) are at risk of
LF infection
Strategic plan for NTD control
An integrated approach to NTD control provides
 limited duplication of efforts by different partners
 an inter-sectoral approach to planning and
implementation
 a framework for integrated monitoring and evaluation
 maximum use of resources
 capacity to ensure sustainability of programmes
 empowerment for the communities to own their
programmes
Achieving the WHO roadmap targets for
NTDs/LF in Tanzania
• National plan for LF elimination established in 2000
• WHO Master Plan for NTDs finalised in 2012
• Initiated implementation of MDA for LF elimination in 2000 on
Mafia Island
• In 2001, 900,000 treated in two LF implementation units
(Zanzibar); five rounds of MDA completed by 2006
• LF MDA has been scaled up to 76 out of 132 (70%)
implementation units
• 11 million people treated for LF in 2011 with a treatment
coverage of 76.2%
• 6,800 health workers and 68,000 community drug distributors
trained
• Some previously LF endemic districts may now not need
MDA due to other interventions
From LF to NTD implementation
• DFID/LFSC funding was the catalyst to
launch the National LF Elimination
Programme on Mafia Island in 2000 – the
first LF MDA in Africa
• Upscaling of LF MDA activities to 6
regions with DFID support continued to
2008
• 2009 – a phased NTD integration
commenced with many new partners
providing additional support
NTD implementation phasing
Some of the Tanzania NTD programme
partners
Evidence informed decisions
Zanzibar
• 2010 MDA ceased after 5 rounds
• 2012 TAS indicated
recrudescence had occurred
• 2013 MDA to resume
Mwanza
• 2012 TAS indicated that
endemicity was below 1%
therefore MDA is not required
Current CNTD support
• Zanzibar - MDA following TAS
• Dar-es-Salaam - LF MDA (in coordination
with SCI schistosomiasis/STH MDA)
• Further TAS in regions to survey if MDA
still needed due to other interventions
• Operational research – Urban risk
mapping in Dar; Impact of vector control in
Mwanza
THANPRESENT CHALLENGESYOU
• Delays in reporting from the implementation
districts
• Rolling out the NTD MIS
• to enable timely reporting
for remedial actions
• Low support in dealing
with morbidity issues
• Reaching full geographical
• coverage
• Dealing with data and drug logistics
Some final thoughts
We, the partners to the National NTD
Programme, must:
 continue to support the national NTD programme to
achieve its targets of elimination and control
 continue to build on our long term relationship
which mutually builds respect and trust
 In the broader scenario - be respectful of the
relationships we have with the countries - helping
the countries to help themselves - an excellent
model for support of Global Health Programmes
THANK YOU