The Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland through the Ministry of Health intensifies efforts to make Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) neglected no more in Swaziland. The Ministry of Health with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) successfully held a national high level advocacy meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases. The meeting was held on the 1st of August 2014 at Mountain Inn Hotel in Mbabane.

The high level meeting was attended by the Honourable Minister of Health, Senator Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane and the Honourable Minister of Education and Training, Dr Phineas Magagula, Senior staff in the Ministry of health,   Principal Secretaries from other relevant Ministries as well as other senior Government officials.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Owen Kaluwa, the UNICEF Representative, Ms Rachel Odede as well as officers from the United Nations Family were also present. There were also representatives of development partners , Non Governmental Organizations , and members of the media

The two Ministers made remarks supportive of the drive to sustain the renewed momentum toward the prevention and control of neglected tropical disease in Swaziland, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in particular. They expressed gratitude towards the continued support from WHO especially towards the control of these diseases. Dr Kaluwa reiterated the continued support WHO is giving towards NTDs control and urged the Ministry of Health to strengthen efforts towards the control of NTDs in line with global and regional elimination targets.

This high level meeting was followed by a wider stakeholder meeting held on the 5th of August at Esibayeni Lodge in Matsapha which was attended by more than 100 representatives of different organisations.  During the high level meeting and the wider stakeholder meetings the Deputy Director Health Services, Mrs Rejoice Nkambule made a presentation on basic facts on NTDs and why the renewed momentum for the prevention and control of NTDs.

An advocacy video on NDTs was also shown.

The meetings also presented a chance to share the  mapping plan  for Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis. Swaziland is planning to conduct a national mapping survey for Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis in all the 55 tinkhundla( Districts) in the four regions of the country. This will be followed by finalisation of the NTDs prevention and control Master plan which will defined the interventions aimed at scaling up preventative chemotherapy, case management, monitoring and evaluations as well as resource mobilisation.

The stakeholders pledged their support towards the vision of having a NTDs free Swaziland by 2020. They showed interest in the mapping exercise and pledged to support the initiative.

1. From left to right : Honourable Minister of Education and Training, Dr Phineas  Magagula and Honourable Minister of Health, Senator Sibongile  Ndlela-Simelane listening to proceedings
2. Dr Owen Kaluwa  and  Ms. Rachel Odede  among the participants of the meeting.
3. Experts from  WHO IST/ESA on a mission to control Rota Virus diarrhoea out break were also among the participants of the meeting
4. The WR, Dr. Owen Kaluwa delivering his remarks during the high level meeting
5. The Deputy Director Health Services , Ms Rejoice Nkambule making a presentation
6. Participants of the wider stakeholder meeting

For more information, please contact:

Dr Kevin Makadzange, HPR officer
Email: makadzangek [at] who.int