Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease

    About ESPEN

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    The Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is a five year project which was launched by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in May 2016 to provide national NTD programmes with technical and fundraising support to help them accelerate the control and elimination of the five Neglected Tropical Diseases amenable to Preventive Chemotherapy (PC-NTDs) with the greatest burden on the continent, namely Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthes and Trachoma, which collectively affect hundreds of millions of people.

    ESPEN will contribute to ensuring that national NTD programmes have the data, expertise and financial resources they need to accelerate the fight against these diseases by coordinating Partners and providing technical support. ESPEN was established following the closure of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which during its 20-year mandate made a major contribution to the reduction in onchocerciasis (river blindness) in Africa. ESPEN will maintain the gains made over the past two decades by integrating this approach across the five PC-NTDs. 

    Contact

    Dr. Maria REBOLLO POLO
    Team Leader
    Email: rebollopolom [at] who.int 

    Related Link

    Kuwait Fund and WHO in $4million multi-year agreement to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa

    Neglected Tropical Diseases can be eliminated in our lifetime:  A Call for Action

    ESPEN Portal

    Additional Information

    Framework for the establishment of the ExpandedSpecial Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases

    Download the document

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    Events

    The Mwele Malecela Mentorship Program – Cohort I

    The Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme for Women in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NT...

    15 December 2022

    Donors’ Meeting on Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa

    23 October 2017

    ESPEN Luncheon: For an Africa free of Neglected Tropical Diseases

    20 April 2017