World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates Togo for eradicating four neglected tropical diseases

Health

Wednesday, 24 August 2022 05:14

World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates Togo for eradicating four neglected tropical diseases

(Togo First) - Togo is the first country, worldwide, to eradicate four neglected tropical diseases, namely dracunculiasis, lymphatic filariasis, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), and trachoma. On August 22, 2022, the West African country received from the World Health Organization (WHO) a recognition certificate for this feat. This was at the launch of the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lomé.

WHO’s head himself, Tedros Adanhom Ghebreyessus, gave the certificate to President Faure Gnassingbé.

Remise de la reconnaissance au Togo pour l’élimination de 4 maladies tropicales négligées (dracunculose, filariose lymphatique, trypanosomiase humaine africaine, trachome) par l’OMS et l’Alliance mondiale pour l'élimination des MTN au Chef de l'Etat SEM Faure Gnassingbé. pic.twitter.com/yzYdlccJy6
— Ministère en charge de la Santé Togo (@MSPS_Togo) August 22, 2022

In order, Togo first dealt with the Guinea worm in 2011. Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) followed in 2017. Two years later, while facing the Covid pandemic, the country met all the criteria for eliminating African trypanosomiasis or African sleeping sickness, which is transmitted by the tsetse fly.

Trachoma was next. Last May, Togo became the fourth African country to officially eradicate the disease, after Morocco, Ghana, and the Gambia.

"This is not only a great achievement but also a gift for future generations," said the Ethiopian Tedros Adanhom Ghebreyessus.

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So far, WHO has officially recognized 11 tropical diseases as neglected. These include onchocerciasis, yaws, and Buruli ulcer.

Written by:Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Translated from French by:Schadrac Akinocho

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.