<\/p>\n
A recent agreement between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the German pharmaceutical company Bayer promises hope of expanding access to essential medicines for the treatment of people exposed to or infected by the pork tapeworm Taenia solium.<\/em> <\/p>\n Infection with the parasite T. solium<\/em> is estimated to cause 30% of all epilepsy cases in countries where it is endemic, affecting mostly the poorest people and the most marginalized communities.<\/p>\n In a five-year agreement1<\/sup> signed last year, Bayer agreed to support WHO\u2019s global programme in combating taeniasis and neurocysticercosis through donated praziquantel and niclosamide and to provide funding to sustain control and prevention For more than 15 years, Bayer has donated medicines to WHO to support the control of human African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease. This latest collaboration for the control and treatment of T. solium<\/em> infection is opportune as WHO prepares Both praziquantel and niclosamide are now available through WHO. <\/p>\n To request a donation, a set of forms should be completed to facilitate application, review and reporting. These are also expected to improve coordination and integration among different programmes. The three forms are:<\/p>\n All donations are subject to review and\/or availability of medicines. In addition, use of donated medicines must be adequately reported to WHO upon completion of treatment activities.<\/p>\n The reports generated in the RSM and in the RF (SUMMARY worksheets) must be printed and signed by the NTD coordinator or a Ministry of Health representative to formally endorse the country\u2019s request for these medicines and the reported annual progress Once signatures have been obtained, the scanned copies of the two worksheets, together with the full Excel versions of the RSM, the RF and the EPIRF, can be jointly submitted to WHO. All three duly completed forms should be submitted to the WHO Country \u00a0<\/p>\n The forms should also be copied to the NTD focal point in the respective WHO Regional Office. <\/p>\n The turnaround time (from submission of forms to WHO country office to the delivery of the preventive chemotherapy medicines to the national warehouse of the respective countries) may take up to 6\u20138 months. This lead time is required for review Recording and collecting reliable information on the use of medicines (i.e. coverage) at peripheral and district levels and compiling such information at the national level is essential for completion of the RF.<\/p>\n Efforts to control neurocysticercosis are mainly aimed at breaking the cycle of active transmission of the parasite. An important component of this strategy is treating patients who harbour the T. solium<\/em> tapeworm.<\/em> This is done through Over the past few years, many endemic countries affected by cysticercosis have requested WHO to facilitate access to quality\u2010assured medicines. The current agreement, under the umbrella of universal health coverage, allows Bayer to donate praziquantel Taeniasis is an intestinal infection caused by three species of tapeworm: Taenia solium<\/em> (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata<\/em> (beef tapeworm) and Taenia asiatica. <\/em>Humans can become infected with T. saginata<\/em> or T. asiatica<\/em> when they consume infected beef meat or pig liver tissue, respectively, which has not been adequately cooked, but taeniasis due to T. saginata<\/em> or T. asiatica<\/em> has no major impact on human health.<\/p>\n Infection with the T. solium<\/em> tapeworm occurs when a person eats raw or undercooked, infected pork. People infected with T. solium<\/em> can develop two distinct conditions: taeniasis and cysticercosis.<\/p>\n While the adult tapeworm in the human intestine (taeniasis) does not have major health impact, humans can develop cysticercosis with tapeworm larvae (cysticerci) in the muscles, skin and eyes. When cysts develop in the brain \u2013 a condition known Epilepsy is a public health problem in these endemic communities, where the association with neurocysticercosis can be up to 70% in some areas. In settings where the disease is present, epilepsy is difficult to diagnose and treat.\u00a0 It also causesDonated praziquantel and niclosamide as part of expanded collaboration<\/h2>\n
\n activities. <\/p>\n
\n to launch its new road map for neglected tropical diseases for 2021\u20132030.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHow to request the medicines<\/h2>\n
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\n tablets of the relevant medicines required to reach the planned target population and districts during the year for which medicines are requested.<\/li>\n
\n distribution of medicines across diseases in the reporting year in a standardized format.<\/li>\n
\n data on taeniasis\/cysticercosis. National authorities are encouraged to complete this form and submit it to WHO every year, together with the RF.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSubmission <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n of the national programme(s). The date of signature must also be included. <\/p>\n
\n office and copies emailed to:<\/p>\n
\n and approval of the request that includes order placement, production of medicine and shipment.<\/p>\nData reporting and collection at community and district levels<\/h2>\n
Breaking the cycle of transmission<\/h2>\n
\n large\u2010scale treatment (also known as preventive chemotherapy) of eligible populations. The most effective medicines at a single dose are praziquantel or niclosamide.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n (\u201cBiltricide\u201d) and niclosamide (\u201cYomesan\u201d) tablets.The disease<\/h2>\n
\n as neurocysticercosis \u2013 they can cause severe headache, blindness, convulsions and epileptic seizures. The latter can also be fatal. <\/p>\n
\n major stigmatization, particularly among girls and women (where it is commonly associated to witchcraft).<\/p>\n