Combat neglected tropical diseases and promote "One Health"

Within the framework of cooperation between the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through KfW Development Bank, is supporting the Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC) in implementing the project ‘Programme to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases and Promote “One Health”’. The first phase funded nine projects for the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by awarding scholarships to 19 PhD students. Building on the first phase, the second phase aims to reduce the burden of NTDs on population health, taking into account the interconnections associated with the “One Health” concept, and to increase the scientific contribution on the subject of NTDs in five CEMAC countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon and Chad). The project will comprise two components, as well as cross-cutting activities, structured as follows:

1. A component to support national programmes to combat NTDs. The Ministries of Health of member countries and implementing agencies (NGOs) will propose national projects to be financed by the regional project. These will correspond to the strategies defined in the WHO roadmap for combating endemic NTDs in the CEMAC region.
2. A support component for young CEMAC researchers. The acceleration of programmatic action, the first pillar of the WHO roadmap on NTDs, cannot be achieved without innovation in interventions, tools and diagnostic techniques. This will necessarily involve research. 
3. OCEAC will organise cross-cutting activities in which the first two components may also participate. These activities aim to strengthen regional networking among relevant stakeholders in the fight against NTDs, while taking into account the One Health approach.

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