NTD Program
NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASE PROGRAM
Ending the Neglect: Prevention, Treatment, and Awareness of Tropical Diseases.
What is the NTD Program?
The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Program focuses on combating a group of infectious diseases that primarily affect impoverished communities, causing significant disability, disfigurement, and social stigma. Diseases targeted include leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, scabies, Buruli ulcer, dengue, trachoma, yaws, and snakebites. The program is dedicated to reducing the impact of these diseases through early detection, effective treatment, and widespread awareness campaigns.
Working with partners like WHO, JICA, and The Leprosy Mission, the program aims to strengthen healthcare services, provide free treatment, promote hygiene, and integrate NTD services into existing facilities, particularly in underserved areas. Key objectives include early case detection, increasing public awareness, strengthening the health system, and engaging communities to prevent complications and transmission and improve public health outcomes for at-risk individuals in low-income and remote areas.
Key Benefits
- Reducing Disability and Suffering: The program provides early detection and treatment to prevent the long-term disability and disfigurement caused by NTDs.
- Preventing Transmission and Protecting Communities: Through awareness and treatment, the program helps prevent the spread of these infectious diseases.
- Providing Free Access to Treatment: Ensuring free access to necessary medications like Multidrug Therapy (MDT) and Short Dose Rifampin (SDR) for those affected.
- Empowering Communities through Awareness and Education: Educating communities on symptoms, prevention, and treatment reduces stigma and encourages early healthcare-seeking.
- Strengthening Health Services: Integrating NTD services into existing health facilities enhances the capacity of the local health system to manage these diseases.
Services Offered
Our program provides a range of services focused on preventing and managing Neglected Tropical Diseases, primarily within the NCD Provincial Health Authority network. Services include:
- Screening and Diagnosis: Regular clinic visits and community outreach for early identification of NTD cases.
- Treatment Services: Provision of free, effective treatments such as Multidrug Therapy (MDT) for leprosy and Short Dose Rifampin (SDR) for post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Specialized Dermatological Care: End-of-month visits by a dermatologist to provide expert diagnosis and treatment for complex skin-related NTD cases.
- Public Health Awareness and Education: Conducting campaigns and providing educational materials to inform the public about NTDs, their symptoms, prevention, and available services.
- Community Outreach Services: Mobile health teams conducting screenings, education, and basic treatment in informal settlements, schools, and marketplaces, especially in difficult-to-reach areas.
- Disability Prevention and Management: Assessment and support for patients who have developed disabilities due to NTDs.
How to Access Services
Visit participating Health Facilities or attend Outreach Sessions. Find below a list of health facilities where NTD services are currently focused:
Moresby South District
- Kaugere Urban Clinic
- Lawes Road Clinic
Moresby Northwest District
- Nine Mile Clinic
- Therese Urban Clinic
Moresby Northeast District
- PMGH Dermatology Clinic (for complex cases or referrals)
Outreach programs conducted by mobile health teams also provide access to services in various community settings.
Resources & Downloads
World Health Organization (WHO) – Neglected Tropical Diseases:
Provides an overview of NTDs, key facts, and links to specific diseases.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/neglected-tropical-diseases
World Health Organization (WHO) – Leprosy:
Specific information about leprosy, including signs, symptoms, transmission, treatment, and WHO’s response.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/leprosy
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Neglected Tropical Diseases:
Information on NTDs, primarily from a US perspective but with general facts and resources.
https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/ntd/index.html
The Leprosy Mission International:
This organization is dedicated to leprosy and offers detailed information about the disease, its impact, and their work. Look for sections like “About Leprosy”.
https://www.leprosymission.org/
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) – Diseases:
Provides accessible information about the specific NTDs that DNDi focuses on, including overviews and treatment needs.