Background

WHO has classified ~20 diseases as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and in Kenya more than 25 million Kenyans are said to be infected with NTDs. PC NTDs (Preventive Chemotherapy), a cluster of NTDs amenable by Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are of public health importance as they are endemic in several counties and affect entire communities living in these regions (Annex 1).

These are Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), Schistosomiasis (SCH), Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), Trachoma and Onchocerciasis. The goal of the Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases (DVBNTD) is to accelerate the prevention, control, and elimination of these diseases by 2025 for Onchocerciasis, LF & Trachoma and by 2027 for SCH & STH.

Problem statement

Although safe and cost-effective interventions for PC NTDs are available, the diseases have continued to afflict the rural poor due to neglect. Based on key program gaps, DVBNTD has identified priority areas that need to be strengthened to achieve success of this control and elimination agenda:

• Strengthen program ownership,
• Capacitate and build M&E structures,
• Increased funding for PC-NTDs at National and County levels,
• Use of high quality, timely data for decision making
• Strengthen collaboration with sectors like WASH and other health programs like Malaria, Malezi Bora, cervical cancer screening whose interventions have a direct impact on NTDs.

CHAI’s model of support to DVBNTD

CHAI’s goal is to work with the Division to strengthen information systems, support the strengthening of M&E to monitor progress towards elimination of PC-NTDs, improve routine data analysis and ultimately use of data to facilitate programmatic and strategic planning and operations in line with the elimination of PC-NTDs.

Intended outcomes for NTD data use.

• Efficient planning, targeting and implementation of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns & NTD related interventions.
• Identify at risk geographies to target resources and interventions.
• Improve quantification of MDA commodity or coverage estimates.
• Inform program advocacy and/or donor approach to seek resources needed for elimination.

Through this model of support, CHAI has and will continue to promote DVBNTD ownership of key programmatic processes such as M&E which was previously fragmented within disease areas and was largely partner led process. This will empower the Division take lead in monitoring their interventions, assessing their performance, and taking appropriate action.

CHAI’s data-oriented interventions address much needed gaps in data processes (collection, reporting, integration, access and use) in NTD programming. Day to day support to the Division will lead to institutionalization of interventions as part of the programming process. In addition, interventions will be targeted to decision makers and staff involved in NTD programming at national and subnational levels ensuring impact is achieved at all levels and interventions are sustainable beyond CHAI involvement.

CHAI interventions will build on already existing tools for easier uptake as compared to developing new tools. Tools include the ALMA NTD Score card to advocate for resources, DHIS2 based database to serve data needs of the Program, WHO tools for data quality assessments (DQAs). This will be key for sustainability beyond CHAI.

Lastly, CHAI is fostering the Division’s linkages with other technical stakeholders such as CEMA – UoN (Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis) and HIS unit to address the gaps and offer trainings as per Division needs.

Annex 1: Map showing number of endemic PC-NTDs by counties.