Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
INTEGRATED APPROACH
In all endemic countries, and particularly where only limited resources
are available, strategies for the control of parasitic infections are being
reconsidered in order to optimize human and financial resources and
make the best use of personnel, expertise, surveillance and data collection,
health infrastructure, and communication system. This approach of
integrated control has enabled a broader range of health problems to be
tackled more effectively and at affordable and sustainable costs. Inte-
grated disease control is the merging of resources, services, and inter-
vention at different
levels and between sectors to improve health
outcome.
Since 1997, countries have been developing programs based on inte-
grated approaches to disease control. Coordination among activities
previously implemented in a disease-specific fashion as well as their
integration within national public health systems has been encouraged;
multi-disease national plans of action are increasingly drawn up. WHO
supports and endorses the development of such plans, which are then
approved and adopted by the relevant governments.
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This process has
experienced a significant acceleration since the release of the guidelines
on preventive chemotherapy, which promote coordination and integra-
tion among activities against neglected tropical diseases.
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STH are particularly suitable to integration as the approach to their
control can be adapted and adopted to combat other parasitic diseases
such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis. The Global Programme
to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, based on regular treatment of
communities with single-administration drugs such as ivermectin and
albendazole, also effective against STH, creates an excellent opportunity
for integration. Indeed, control of STH can be the port of entry for the
control of other endemic communicable and non-communicable
diseases.
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This is the approach that was successfully adopted by
JOICFP (the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in
Family Planning) that utilized mass screening and treatment for intestinal
nematodes to stimulate people's interest in family planning and in
environmental and family hygiene.
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CONCLUSIONS
Preventive chemotherapy interventions to control STH can be adapted
to the epidemiological characteristics of each endemic area, such as
pattern of transmission and rate of reinfection, prevalence and intensity of
infection, and prevalent parasite species. Although general guidelines
have been recommended for targeting communities in endemic areas,
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