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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Trop. Dis
Sec. Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fitd.2024.1421522
This article is part of the Research Topic Women in Science - Emerging, Major & Neglected Tropical Diseases View all 4 articles

Sustaining Success Through Strategies for Post-Elimination Management of Neglected Tropical Diseases in African Union Member States

Provisionally accepted
Nafiisah Chotun Nafiisah Chotun 1*Julian Eaton Julian Eaton 2Ifeoma A. Anagbogu Ifeoma A. Anagbogu 3Hanna Amanuel Tesfahunei Hanna Amanuel Tesfahunei 1Sheila Shawa Sheila Shawa 4Carol Karutu Carol Karutu 5Akeem Bolarinwa Akeem Bolarinwa 6Abdulaziz Mohammed Abdulaziz Mohammed 1
  • 1 Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 2 Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, London, United Kingdom
  • 3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
  • 4 Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • 5 The END Fund, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 6 Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) has seen significant progress, with 21 African Union Member States having successfully eliminated at least one NTD. However, post-elimination management of NTDs remains a challenge. This article provides important insights into the challenges faced by African Union Member States after eliminating NTDs, including potential financial support withdrawal and risk of disease reemergence. We also discuss comprehensive strategies for postelimination management, emphasising the importance of robust surveillance systems, capacity building, community engagement, and the integration of mental health services. We also advocate for a multisectoral approach to sustain elimination gains, aligning with global and regional health strategies. Our analysis underscores the necessity of continuous innovation in surveillance, the critical role of community health workers, the integration of NTD post-elimination management into broader health and development frameworks such as Universal Healthcare Coverage, and the need for innovative financing and partnerships to ensure the long-term success of NTD elimination efforts.

    Keywords: Neglected Diseases, sustainable development, Disease Eradication, African Union, Delivery of healthcare, Integrated

    Received: 22 Apr 2024; Accepted: 12 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chotun, Eaton, Anagbogu, Tesfahunei, Shawa, Karutu, Bolarinwa and Mohammed. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Nafiisah Chotun, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.