Title |
Cross-border collaboration for neglected tropical disease efforts—Lessons learned from onchocerciasis control and elimination in the Mano River Union (West Africa)
|
---|---|
Published in |
Globalization and Health, August 2016
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12992-016-0185-5 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Kenneth Gustavsen, Yao Sodahlon, Simon Bush |
Abstract |
Diseases don't respect borders, so efforts to control and eliminate diseases must also be flexible and adaptable enough to effectively reach the populations that live in the areas around national frontiers. Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness is a tropical disease that has historically affected millions of people in 35 countries in Africa and Latin America. In Africa, programs and partnerships to address river blindness through mass drug administration have been active for more than 25 years. While in many cases the disease is found in isolated foci that fall entirely within national boundaries, the geographic scope of many affected areas crosses country borders. National river blindness programs are the responsibility of each nation's Ministry of Health, so in cross-border situations there is a need for effective country-country collaboration. Cross-border collaboration for onchocerciasis control efforts in the countries of the Mano River Basin illustrates the positive impact of a creative model, and offers lessons for expanded application for onchocerciasis elimination as well as other neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and elimination programs. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 4 | 29% |
United States | 3 | 21% |
Netherlands | 1 | 7% |
Switzerland | 1 | 7% |
Portugal | 1 | 7% |
Georgia | 1 | 7% |
Unknown | 3 | 21% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 11 | 79% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 14% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 7% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 51 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 8 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 14% |
Researcher | 6 | 12% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 12% |
Other | 5 | 10% |
Other | 9 | 18% |
Unknown | 10 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 20% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 7 | 14% |
Social Sciences | 7 | 14% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 5 | 10% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 10% |
Other | 7 | 14% |
Unknown | 10 | 20% |