Burkina Faso: Some $450 million in medicines for “neglected” diseases

Pharmaceutical companies have pledged some US$450 million worth of medicines to Burkina Faso to fight “neglected” diseases that blind or otherwise debilitate millions of people in the country, according to the health minister.

Community health workers in Burkina Faso will help distribute donated medicines for "neglected tropical diseases". (Image: Brahima Ouedraogo/IRIN)

Nearly 4,000 health workers are being deployed throughout the country to prepare for drug distribution and other education and prevention activities, health officials say.

The nationwide programme takes on five of what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls “neglected tropical diseases” or NTDs – lymphatic filiariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma and intestinal worms.

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