The contribution of mass drug administration to global health: past, present and future

Abstract

Mass drug administration (MDA) is a means of delivering safe and inexpensive essential medicines based on the principles of preventive chemotherapy, where populations or sub-populations are offered treatment without individual diagnosis. High-coverage MDA in endemic areas aims to prevent and alleviate symptoms and morbidity on the one hand and can reduce transmission on the other, together improving global health. MDA is the recommended strategy of the World Health Organisation to control or eliminate several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). More than 700 million people now receive these essential NTD medicines annually. The combined cost of integrated NTD MDA has been calculated to be in the order of $0.50 per person per year. Activities have recently been expanded due, in part, to the proposed attempt to eliminate certain NTDs in the coming two decades. More than 1.9 billion people need to receive MDA annually across several years if these targets are to be met. Such extensive coverage will require additional avenues of financial support, expanded monitoring and evaluation focusing on impact and drug efficacy, as well as new diagnostic tools and social science strategies to encourage adherence. MDA is a means to help reduce the burden of disease, and hence poverty, among the poorest sector of populations. It has already made significant improvements to global health and productivity and has the potential for further successes, particularly where incorporated into sanitation and education programmes. However logistical, financial and biological challenges remain.

Compounds from African Medicinal Plants with Activities against Protozoal Diseases: Schistosomiasis, Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis

“…20 Moreover, observed resistance and reduced efficiency of praziquantel in laboratory strains have prompted the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. Trypanosomiasis, which represents several diseases caused by parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, is also of interest.…”

The global fight to develop antipoverty vaccines in the anti-vaccine era

“…These funds are channeled to government contractors or health ministries in disease-endemic countries, together with technical support from a network of non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs). 6 , 7 The interventions are intended to target some of the world's most prevalent NTDs, including ascariasis, hookworm disease, trichuriasis, schistosomaisis, scabies, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and yaws. According to the WHO the number of people receiving NTD essential medicines for these NTDs has now surpassed one billion, although almost one-half of the world's population requiring such medicines has yet to receive them.…”

Household and personal factors are sources of heterogenity in intestinal parasite clearance among Mexican children 6–15 months of age supplemented with vitamin A and zinc

“…The high prevalence of recurrent intestinal parasite infections among children in these countries leads to increased malnutrition and so has an important effect on childhood growth and development (Hall A et al, 2008). Preventive chemoprophylaxis is an effective public health intervention in reducing parasite burden and improving childhood nutritional status (Montresor A et al, 2012;Webster JP et al, 2014). However, in households where water and sanitation facilities are deficient or lacking, the treated children are frequently re-infected as a result of their continued exposure to parasites (Jia TW et al, 2012;Yap P et al, 2013).…”