MENTOR has been working to reduce the burden of debilitating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) since 2012, focussing on integrating five main areas of work.
Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns are carried out with local health authorities, community leaders, and partner organisations. We support local governments to distribute preventive medications to communities at risk, targeting diseases such as lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis.
These campaigns align with WHO 2030 Roadmap targets. They aim to accelerate progress in the control and elimination of NTDs through the widest geographical and therapeutic coverage.
Hygiene promotion
Hygiene Promotion is community-based activities that raise awareness about the importance of personal and environmental hygiene practices to prevent neglected tropical diseases. By promoting behaviours like handwashing, proper sanitation practices and safe waste disposal, we lessen the transmission of NTDs and improve community health.
MENTOR supports a wide range of hygiene promotion activities such as the use of champions and peer educators, school-based interventions and community activists. These ensure key messages are developed, implemented and assessed by those who also benefit from hygiene promotion.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) activities are critical to our neglected tropical disease programmes. MENTOR supports the development and improvement of WASH infrastructure, including:
- Access to clean water sources
- Adequate sanitation facilities
- Proper waste management systems
By addressing these aspects, we create healthier environments and decrease the risk of neglected tropical disease transmission. MENTOR has promoted the effective integration of water, sanitation and hygiene with neglected tropical diseases into national and local policy development, to improve the underlying causes of transmission.
Intensified disease management
Intensified disease management is the fourth component of MENTOR’s neglected tropical disease approach. Where possible, the management of debilitating and disfiguring diseases such as leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis is integrated into training and healthcare.
This ensures the effective management of cases, which focuses on early detection, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Disease mapping
Disease mapping MENTOR supports local governments to map the burden of neglected tropical diseases and assess the impact of interventions using robust survey methodologies. This enables the accurate measure of disease prevalence and guides the planning of interventions to suit each specific epidemiological context.
In partnership with governments, other organisations and local communities, we have achieved significant progress controlling neglected tropical diseases across a range of settings and different diseases. We are dedicated to strengthening local health systems to address neglected tropical diseases, as we work towards making a sustainable impact.
