Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control (GNNTDC)

A note on this page's publication date

The content on this page has not been recently updated. This content is likely to be no longer fully accurate, both with respect to the research it presents and with respect to what it implies about our views and positions.

GNNTDC seeks to coordinate the efforts of seven organizations that fight seven diseases in the developing world. These diseases cause a range of debilitating conditions, and can largely be prevented or treated by orally administering certain drugs 1-3 times per year; in Attachment B-13, GNNTDC proposes a program to deliver the medication for all seven diseases at once, which would presumably decrease the inefficiency caused by multiple organizations' distributing similar products to the same people. We find it possible that funding such a program can save people from extreme debilitation, with high cost-effectiveness, perhaps superior to that of our other finalists - but at this point we lack the information we would need to be confident. In particular, we do not have enough information on:

  1. How debilitating each disease's symptoms are, and how often. Our current understanding, summarized briefly on our problems and solutions page, is insufficient.
  2. How effective GNNTDC's proposed treatments can be expected to be for people at different stages of each disease.
  3. Results from past and ongoing projects in this area.

Regarding (1) and (2), GNNTDC sent us several papers, and we went thoroughly through the footnotes looking for information (all relevant attachments we found are included at the bottom of this review), but did not find the level of detail necessary to answer these questions. GNNTDC has informed us that the information we seek is publicly available, but that pulling it all together is a major ongoing project; we look forward to keeping up with the organization and relevant research, and learning more about these diseases and their treatments.

Regarding (3), GNNTDC has informed us that results are available and have been presented at conferences, but not yet published for public consumption. Again, we are hoping to see them once they are available.

Attachments

A. Application and response

B. Program related attachments

  • Attachment B-1: de Silva, N.R. et al. (2003) Soil-transmitted helminth infections: updating the global picture. Trends Parasitol. 19. (Available through PubMed)
  • Attachment B-2: Guyatt, HL, S Brooker, CM Kihamia, A Hall and DA Bundy. “Evaluation of efficacy of school-based anthelmintic treatments against anaemia in children in the United Republic of Tanzania,” Bull World Health Organ, 2001, 79(8): 695-703.
  • Attachment B-3: Engels D, Chitsulo L, Montresor A, Savioli L (2002) The global epidemiological situation of schistosomiasis and new approaches to control and research. Acta Trop 82. (Available through PubMed)
  • Attachment B-4: Basáñez MG, Pion SDS, Churcher TS, Breitling LP, Little MP, et al. (2006) River Blindness: A Success Story under Threat? PLoS Med 3(9): e371
  • Attachment B-5: WHO Vision2020 initiative
  • Attachment B-6: WHO, “Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filiariasis: Annual report on lymphatic filariasis” Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2006, 81: 221-232.
  • Attachment B-7: Lietman. "Global Elimination of Trachoma: How Frequently should we adminster mass chemotherapy?" Nature America. 1999. (Available through PubMed)
  • Attachment B-8: CDC, “Lymphatic Filariasis Fact Sheet,” 26 March 2007
  • Attachment B-9: Remme JH (2004) Research for control: The onchocerciasis experience. Trop Med Int Health 9. (Available through PubMed)
  • Attachment B-10: WHO/TDR, “Schistosomiasis: Disease Information,” 2004
  • Attachment B-11: Guyatt, H, “The cost of delivering and sustaining a control programme for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis,” Acta Trop 2003, 86: 367-274. (Available through PubMed)
  • Attachment B-12: Brady, Molly A., Pamela Hooper and Eric A. Ottesen, “Projected benefits from integrating NTD programs in sub-Saharan Africa,” Trends in Parasitology, July 2006, vol. 22, no. 7: 285-291.
  • Attachment B-13: Rapid Impact Package PLoS 2005
  • Attachment B-14: Disease Occurance
  • Attachment B-15: About NTDS Fact Sheet 07.19
  • Attachment B-16: About the Global Network 08.29
  • Attachment B-17: Contribute to the Fight Aug 29
  • Attachment B-18: Impact of NTDs
  • Attachment B-19: Impact on Maternal and Child Health
  • Attachment B-20: Partner Activity by Country
  • Attachment B-21: Success Stories
  • Attachment B-22: Technical Approach
  • Attachment B-23: Africa-ALL Partner and Extended Activity
  • Attachment B-24: Anemia and NTDs PLoS 08 2007
  • Attachment B-25: Brady et al 2006- Case for Integration - Trends in Parasitology
  • Attachment B-26: CENTENNIAL REVIEW African Trypanosomiasis - Maudlin
  • Attachment B-27: deworming and anemia - Tanzania
  • Attachment B-28: Kremer-Worm Impact on Education and Economics 2004
  • Attachment B-29: Kristof Global Network Op-ed.07.02.07
  • Attachment B-30: Lancet Uche Amazigo and APOC
  • Attachment B-31: News Africa - Dying from neglect
  • Attachment B-32: NTDs and HIV, Malaria and TB PLoS 2006
  • Attachment B-33: NTDs and Post Conflict Countries
  • Attachment B-34: Sachs editorial Scientific American
  • Attachment B-35: Sierra Leone - Plan of Action for integrated control-final
  • Attachment B-36: New England Journal of Medicine Article
  • Attachment B-37: Cost per-country in sub-Saharan Africa