Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
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Recognising that "neglected tropical diseases" (NTDs) are significant poverty promoting conditions and high on the global public health priority agenda central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre (LFSC), in July 2008, expanded its activities to become the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNTD). This expansion appropriately acknowledges the Centre’s expertise to work on other NTDs in addition to its focus on lymphatic filariasis (LF).
The LFSC was established in April 2000. Initial support was for 5 years and following a successful review in 2004 this was extended to 2010. Core support is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and country and operational support is provided by DFID.
CNTD is a key partner in the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF) and is the Secretariat for GAELF. In its role as Secretariat CNTD has developed and undertaken communication strategies and activities including the organization of the third (Egypt, 2004), fourth (Fiji, 2006) and fifth (Tanzania, 2008) meetings of GAELF. Planning for the sixth meeting to be held in Korea (2010) is already underway. The Centre, as Secretariat, is also responsible for the management of the activities of the Executive Group with Professor David Molyneux as the Executive Secretary.
In addition to its role as the Secretariat of GAELF, CNTD has assumed responsibility for the Secretariat of the Global LF NGDO Network, a task which emphasises the confidence of the global partnerships in the services, skills and technical assistance provided by CNTD.
CNTD brings to GAELF, GPELF and the broader NTD package a depth of knowledge of related problems, an extensive global network, independence, recognition of health systems and health policy in relation to disease control and the capacity to respond rapidly to country needs if resources permit. CNTD assists and facilitates the GPELF at country level, works with the World Health Organisation (WHO), supports applied/operational research and ensures quality human resource capacity building for science and public health.
CNTD works closely with partners, specifically the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GNNTD), to support advocacy to provide resources to assist MDA, conduct operational research and provide data for the evidence base which will aid the leverage of additional funds. CNTD also works closely with all partners to advocate integration policies at all levels.
Although Professor David Molyneux has retired as the Centre’s full time Director he will continue for the foreseeable future in a part-time advisory/advocacy position. In July 2008 the Centre welcomed Professor Moses Bockarie as its new Director and his vision for CNTD is “to improve the quality of life for the bottom billion by providing technical assistance to establish an evidence base for developing tools and control strategies for NTDs”.
From 2001-2006 LFSC was a recipient of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant (US$20 million) together with 4 other partners (WHO, Emory University, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and a group of NGDOs). These funds supported: