Eliminating African Tropical Diseases Through WHO

Africa plays host to numerous tropical diseases including malaria, buruli ulcer, schistosomiasis, leprosy, filariasis, African trypanosomiasis, Ebola, Giardiasis, and African sleeping sickness to name a few.

It is little wonder than that the World Health Organization has so many programs in Africa that focus on prevention and control of tropical diseases. The programs focus on different diseases and may even have different objectives but the goals are the same, to end the suffering of the people of Africa.

The following information was gathered from www.afro.who.int/

Advocacy Social Mobilization's mission is to strengthen the programs of Africa in order to plan and implement effective advocacy, social mobilization and communication strategies to support immunization.

The World Health Organization (WHO) intends to develop control and surveillance regarding Buruli Ulcer in Africa, to support control activities and case management of antibiotics, surgery and to help prevent future disabilities that occur from the disease through education, research and improved understanding of socio-economic implications that face the African people.

The Communicable Disease Surveillance and response (CSR) is a surveillance and response organization seeking to make regional, national and global awareness of Africa's plight. The organization plans, monitors and evaluates program activities.

The Emerging, Re-emerging and Other Communicable Diseases (DDC) is a program that provides technical support to the countries of Africa, including training of health personnel, support regarding epidmiology and epidemic management, support needed for the countries of Africa regarding contingency stocks of drugs, vaccines and other supplies to prepare for the needs of epidemics.

The Regional Programme for the Elimination of Leprosy gives technical, managerial, and financial support to those African countries where leprosy is still a major threat.

An African program concerned with helping to control African Trypanosomiasis is: Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT). The objective of the programme is "solving the trypanosomiasis problem within the broader context of food, security, human health, rural development and sustainable agriculture"

All of these programs whether they are educational in nature or medical have one thing in common and that is to help eliminate tropical diseases from Africa n countries. The programs help to inform citizens about the tropical diseases that plague them, they initiate programs that help to control the diseases, or set up ways to prevent the spread of disease. Some programs are even set up to help financially or to provide needed drugs, or medical supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) is an instrumental force behind much of the programs Africa has. There are also academic institutions, drug companies and private companies who give aid to Africa some are associated with WHO and some act on their own.

WHO is a coordinating authority for health within the United Nations System. It provides leadership regarding global health matters; it sets standards, provides technical support to countries and monitors health trends.

About The Author-- Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Tropical Diseases.

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