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. 2018 Dec 20;12(12):e0006623.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006623. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Achieving the endgame: Integrated NTD case searches

Lucas Buyon  1 , Randall Slaven  2 , Paul M Emerson  3 , Jonathan King  4 , Oscar Debrah  5 , Agatha Aboe  6 , Ernesto Ruiz-Tiben  2 , E Kelly Callahan  2
Affiliations

Achieving the endgame: Integrated NTD case searches

Lucas Buyon et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

Trachoma and Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) are neglected tropical diseases (NTD) slated for elimination as a public health problem and eradication respectively by the World Health Organization. As these programs wind down, uncovering the last cases becomes an urgent priority. In 2010, Ghana Health Services, along with The Carter Center, Sightsavers, and other partners, conducted integrated case searches for both GWD and the last stage of trachoma disease, trachomatous trichiasis (TT), as well as providing surgical treatment for TT to meet elimination (and eradication targets). House to house case searches for both diseases were conducted and two case management strategies were explored: a centralized referral to services method and a Point of Care (POC) delivery method. 835 suspected TT cases were discovered in the centralized method, of which 554 accepted surgery. 482 suspected TT cases were discovered in the POC method and all TT cases accepted surgery. The cost per TT case examined was lower in the POC searches compared to the centralized searches ($19.97 in the POC searches and $20.85 in the centralized searches). Both strategies resulted in high surgical uptake for TT surgery, with average uptakes of 72.4% and 83.9% for the centralized and POC searches respectively. We present here that house to house case searches offering services at POC are feasible and a potential tool for elimination and eradication programs nearing their end.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Map of Northern districts of Ghana and case search study areas.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Table of characteristics and outcomes of the case searches.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Flow chart contrasting results between methodologies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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