For Neglected Tropical Diseases’ epidemiology in Ethiopia, AMU’s Collaborative Research and Training Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease is the lone ranger, which is evident from the fact that Ministry of Health has accredited it with stupendous task of independently monitoring of mass-drug administration across the country, which it did hands down. Click here to see the pictures.
Apart from its mandate to conduct research and various trainings, CRT-NTD is also pushing envelope in the areas of NTDs that is bound to have wider implication in unraveling underlying complexities of the disease and the treatment; it’s good omen for those susceptible to it.
Operating from nondescript office tucked up in between the rows of old buildings at Nechsar Campus, Centre maintaining low-profile by the end of 4th round will complete assignments worth ETB 83,216,10 for the Ministry of Health. This high-profile job was bagged by the centre in 2015, and it kept on winning subsequent rounds and the accolades as well.
In the 1st round, Centre screening 224 schools in Afar, Amara, Harare, Somali, Benishangul-Gumz, Gambela, Tigray, Oromia and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions could observe glaring gaps in handling of drug side-effects, non-compliance of WHO protocol, sub-standard trainings and catch in involving non-enrolled kids and the feedbacks were conveyed to the ministry. It had financial outlay of ETB 14,066,10 and 80 staff members were involved in it.
Similarly, 2nd and 3rd rounds were conducted in seven and nine regions; 180 and 224 schools were covered by 60 and 80 staff respectively that incurred ETB 20,467,10 and 26,014,50. The 4th round underway in Benishangul-Gumz, Gambela, Tigray, SNNPR and Oromia where 48 staff members will cover 144 schools and it is expected to be completed shortly. It will incur ETB 22,668,40.
On whether the Centre could earn any profits in these assignments, Director, Tigist Gezmu said, actually, we work on no-profit basis for its community service for us; because, it doesn’t go as planned when we start, we had to work in harsh conditions, trudge on foot, ford rivers and even at times, face people’s ire as they are not aware about the program.
In its 1st assignment in five regions, the Centre had observed gaps in teacher and health extension worker woreda-level trainings, deworming in schools, knowledge of recipients and participants, impact of community sensitization and mobilization with regard to the program and conveyed them to the ministry to act upon, informed, CRT-NTD director, Tigist Gezmu.
As the Centre moved from 1st to 4th rounds conducting IM, identifying potential lacunas; ministry of health was quick in rectifying them and things begun to improve. But, presently, woreda-level communication gaps often play spoil sport; the instructions sent from the ministry to regional health bureaus would get stuck and we had to find solution for the same. Missing data would be the expected outcomes in such critical circumstances, Tigist emphasized.
If we delve deeper into the comparative analysis of deworming preparedness indicators across MDA rounds, it states in November 2015, 78.3% school directors were found aware about MDA that went up to 86.3% by April 2016. While indicators like deworming teams, teachers and schools showed marginal improvements on the scale.
But indicators of deworming implementation such as involvement of non-enrolled children, screening of sick kids prior to MDA and usage of WHO drug pole continue to be the matter of concern as its undulating trajectory clearly show that after interval of five months awareness level plummets. However, ministry is trying to address the issue, Tigist added.
Last year, of five research projects, CRT-NTD has completed four focusing on STH, trachoma, schistosomiasis and parasite-load on pregnant women; while this year, three are underway in Gamo Gofa, South Omo, Debub Omo and Jinka, she summed up.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)