Juba, 8 September 2017: The Ministry of Health (MOH) with support from the World Health Organization and partners last month launched the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected tropical diseases (ESPEN) and Mass Drugs Administration (MDA) to effectively tackle the NTDs targeted for elimination. NTDs have affected over 6 million people living in South Sudan. 

South Sudan is classified as one of the five priority countries in the African region, with the highest burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Both Preventive Chemotherapy and Case managed NTDs (PC-NTDs & CM-NTDs) are endemic in the country. Some of the PC-NTDs include: lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis), schistosomiasis (bilharzia), soil-transmitted helminthes (STH), onchocerciasis (River blindness), loasis and trachoma while the case managed NTDs include: Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) commonly also known as sleeping sickness, kala-azar, guinea worm, buruli ulcer disease, myelomas and nodding disease. 

In his remarks Dr Riek Gai Kok, the Honorable Minister of Health underscored efforts that have been made by WHO, The Carter Center and other partners to combat NTDs citing the success being made in Guinea worm elimination in South Sudan. He also encouraged the affected communities and their leaders to be part of the campaign to eradicate NTDs in South Sudan by 2020. 

By 2016, 54 counties had been mapped for PC-NTDs, currently South Sudan has a mapping gap of 37 counties. Since July 2017, MDA for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis has been conducted in 14 counties. Through ESPEN and other partners, South Sudan is looking forward to mobilize more resources to map the remaining counties and increase treatment coverage in areas already mapped.

The launch provided a platform for awareness creation on the status of NTDs in South Sudan among the community as well as engagement of stakeholders on the eradication roadmap, said Mr Evans Liyosi, WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan. “The ESPEN approach of integration is also being adopted as a step towards the promotion of both cost-effectiveness and health systems strengthening in South Sudan” Mr Liyosi underscored.

WHO, Mentor Initiative, and Christian Blind Mission are working with MOH to accelerate mass drug treatment in selected areas including Tonj South, Aweil West, Awerial and Yirol West, former Western Equatoria state, Jur River, Wau and Wulu. The second wave of MDA is expected to commence in September/October 2017. 

In attendance were government officials, Mr Makoy Samuel Yibii, Director NTD/MOH, Hon. Saveraino Phillip Bazia Commissioner of Tonj South County, Dr Raphael Mawien DG MOH Tonj State, several Director Generals from the National Ministry of Health, representatives from The Carter Center, religious institutions, Comitato Collaborazione Medica (CCM), the World Health Organization and other partners.