ASCEND:
Accelerating the Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases
Accelerating the Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Ascend) is a programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to advance the impact and sustainability of national programmes tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s) across the globe.
Ascend Lot1 is implemented by a consortium of partners including Crown Agents, Abt Associates, Oriole Global Health and The Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands. As part of the Ascend Programme, Oriole Global Health is providing technical leadership in areas of programme design and delivery, epidemiological insight, and data modelling and mapping.
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A core tenet for delivery of Ascend is close partnership with Health Ministries to tackle 5 NTDs; Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, Visceral Leishmaniasis and Trachoma; supported interventions include: Mass Drug Administration; intensive case management; surgery; WASH and Behaviour Change Communication.
NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES​
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Ancient, disabling and disfiguring, Neglected Tropical Diseases have slowly decreased their global presence over the past century thanks to the advancement of socioeconomic development. However, over a billion people remain affected by these diseases that continue to thrive in poor and remote communities that lack access to safe water and sanitation.
At project inception, Oriole Global Health completed rigorous country assessments concerning the epidemiological landscape of target diseases and programme and government capacity to deliver sustainable NTD programmes. This included the development of an integrated sustainability assessment framework that leveraged technical competencies and analysis completed by consortium partners within their given field of expertise.
Tailored country reports, workplans and technical assistance packages based on the completed analysis were agreed with Ministries of Health and their partners to guide this £100m programme. Thereafter Oriole Global Health continues to guide implementation of NTD services either directly with Ministries or working with governments to contract Implementing Partners for entire or partial delivery of services.
Through strengthening national health systems, Ascend is working in close collaboration with host governments to provide and support the prevention, detection, treatment and surveillance activities necessary to maintain the reduced disease burden in the longer term, and to prevent disease resurgence. The expected results are a more integrated, cost-effective and long-term solution to addressing NTD’s.
