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Enabling a Better Future

Lessons learned over fifty years of development work continue to guide and sustain our partnerships and health work. People are always the solution to problems affecting people; providing better health services to more people requires the concerted effort of everyone.

Haitian children receive treatment
during a Mass Drug Administration
in Cap Haitien

IMA World Health has implemented Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) interventions to control and eliminate these tropical diseases since 1994 despite limited resources. IMA began NTD work in Tanzania in collaboration with WHO and other non-governmental organizations and assisted in the establishment of the Tanzania National Onchocerciasis Task Force. IMA's work in Onchocerciasis (also known as River Blindness) control spread across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo through the successful USAID-supported SANRU III Program. IMA brought treatment and care to more than 1.2 million people in the most remote areas of DRC despite the challenges of extremely poor infrastructure and civil conflict.

Currently, we work in four countries -India, Togo, Haiti and the DRC to prevent NTDs and provide a disease free future to the children as well as bring hope and relief to those who are suffering from the effects of the disease.

In Haiti, IMA works in partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Health and Population (MSPP), the Ministry of Education, and other partners to implement the National NTD Control Program. IMA leads implementation of the USAID/RTI funded program activities and will treat 4.1 million people in the 2009-2010 MDA cycle. Although the January earthquake temporaily halted program activities, the program was restarted in April and will be completely back on schedule by the end of June.

A Positive Impact in Morbidity Management

Since 2007 IMA World Health has managed implementation of morbidity management programs in both India and Togo with the support of USAID funding through the World Bank Trust Fund.

A woman suffering from Lymphatic
Filariasis learning how to care
for her leg.

These two projects showcase not only the importance of enabling people to self manage their chronic condition but also how morbidity management strengthens the acceptance of MDA intervention in a community. Operational research results from India program to be released by CDC in June, clearly show the correlation between increased MDA compliance due to morbidity management and social mobilization programs in the community.

In the Orissa State of India, IMA partners with the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) to train and support over 15,000 Lymphatic Filariasis patients and their families on home based self care. In Togo, IMA collaborates with and supports the Ministry of Health's National LF Elimination Program to provide training to clean and care for their diseased limbs to more than 900 patients and volunteers all over the country, thus providing relief and mobility to many.