What is the END Fund? The END Fund is the world's first private philanthropic initiative to combat the five most common neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that, together, cause up to 90% of the NTD burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Supported by a group of global philanthropists, the END Fund provides financing for nationwide disease control initiatives, creating new programs, supplementing existing ones, and using leveraged funds to extend and deepen the impact. The END Fund provides exceptional return on investment by harnessing the highly scalable impact of low-cost mass drug administrations. Learn more The Best Buy in Public Health NTDs bring misery to hundreds of millions of people each year, but just 50 cents funds a rapid-impact package of medication to treat an individual for the five most common NTDs. The Best Buy in Education Studies show that NTD treatment is the single most cost-effective means of improving children’s attendance and increasing capacity to learn and concentrate in school.
1 Intestinal Worms Intestinal worms, also known as soil-transmitted helminths, affect over 1.5 billion people worldwide, including over 875 million children.Learn more Transmitted by: Contaminated water and soil Caused by: Parasitic worms Affects: Intestinal system Symptoms: Stunted growth, impaired cognitive function
2 Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia or snail fever, affects over 250 million people and causes 170,000 deaths per year in Sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more Transmitted by: Snail host Caused by: Parasitic worms Affects: Intestinal and urinary system Symptoms: Bloody urine/stool and impaired growth
3 Lymphatic Filariasis Lymphatic Filariasis, the cause of elephantiasis, affects more than 1 billion million people worldwide, and is an extremely painful, debilitating and disfiguring disease. Learn more Transmitted by: Mosquito Caused by: Parasitic worms Affects: Lymphatic system Symptoms: Elephantiasis, hydrocele
4 Trachoma Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection, affects over 200 million people worldwide and can lead to irreversible and painful visual impairment and blindness. Learn more Transmitted by: Humans Caused by: Bacterial infection Affects: Eyesight Symptoms: Visual impairment and blindness
5 River Blindness Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a parasitic worm disease affecting more than 100 million people worldwide. Learn more Transmitted by: Black fly Caused by: Parastic worms Affects: Eyesight and skin Symptoms: Blindness and skin lesions
Seeing Results RWANDA AND BURUNDI In 2007 in Rwanda, 65% of the population were affected by intestinal worms; it was the second most frequent problem diagnosed in health clinics, followed by respiratory infections. In Burundi, baseline mapping found that both schistosomiasis and hookworm were highly prevalent, in some districts affecting over 40% of the population; yet, health systems were not in place to diagnose and treat these diseases. In 2007, a four year $7.7 million initiative to fight and control these diseases was launched in Rwanda and Burundi. Rwanda and Burundi have achieved major milestones by public health standards: By the end of 2011, the program had treated 9.7 million Rwandans and Burundians and trained more than 15,000 community health workers to properly administer de-worming tablets to men, women and children in these two countries – a tremendous success and a demonstration of the role that private philanthropy can play in combating NTDs. The prevalence rates for schistosomiasis, in some areas, have dropped below the WHO threshold of 10% and trachoma is under control. Learn more