Research and Capacity Building for Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases: The Need for a Different Approach

Thomas Kariuki,Maria Hermínia Cabral,Ole F Olesen,Richard Phillips,Detlef Hanne,Paul R Klatser,Sarah Lock,Sammy Njenga,Riccardo Porro,Martina Gliber

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001020

Abstract

Research and Capacity Building for Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases: The Need for a Different Approach

Highlights

The impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) on health and economy is increasingly discussed in international fora, e.g., recently in a series of articles in The Lancet at the beginning of 2010 ([2], http://www.thelancet.com/ series/neglected-tropical-diseases)
While the African continent is hard hit by NTDs, the African scientific community has so far been poorly represented during global priority setting for research on NTDs
We would like to summarize the deliberations and recommendations of two workshops held in Bamako and Lisbon in 2008 and 2010, respectively, where about 50 researchers from sub-Saharan Africa discussed their views on research and capacity requirements for the control of NTDs

Summary

Introduction

The impact of NTDs on health and economy is increasingly discussed in international fora, e.g., recently in a series of articles in The Lancet at the beginning of 2010 ([2], http://www.thelancet.com/ series/neglected-tropical-diseases). While the African continent is hard hit by NTDs, the African scientific community has so far been poorly represented during global priority setting for research on NTDs. in most cases, the importance of scientific capacity building in endemic developing countries that would guarantee ownership, support, and sustainability of control programs is neglected.

Results

Conclusion