Why maps are important for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)

Maps are important for designing and implementing interventions targeted at the control and elimination of diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). For those NTDs which are targeted for elimination, such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF), it is essential to know where transmission occurs and when it has been successfully halted following control initiatives. For those NTDs where disease control is the goal, including trachoma, soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis, interventions are most cost-effective when they are focused in areas with the highest prevalence of infection. In addition, NTD maps can be linked to population data to derive estimates of disease burden and numbers requiring intervention – information essential for estimating programme costs.

Read more in “Mapping neglected tropical diseases: a global view”