Optimizing monitoring and evaluation of neglected tropical diseases: soil-transmitted helminthiasis as a case study
PhD candidate: Kazienga, Adama
Supervisors: Prof. dr. Bruno Levecke, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UGent, Belgium - Prof. dr. Sake J. De Vlas, Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands - Prof. dr. Luc E. Coffeng, Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, The Netherlands
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of 21 parasitic, bacterial, viral diseases and toxin-mediated diseases, which are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. To fight against the NTD-attributable morbidity, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends several control strategies. To assess the impact of these control strategies, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) remain crucial for informing decision-making regarding whether WHO targets for 2030 have been achieved. Several sampling frameworks have been developed to support M&E through the proposed recommended survey designs. Yet, it remains unclear whether these recommended survey designs are cost-efficient enough to ensure the correctness of the program decision while minimizing the total operational cost and accounting for the deployment of imperfect diagnostics. In this thesis, different frameworks were developed based on a lot-quality assurance sampling (LQAS) approach, with the aim to improve the M&E of NTD control programs.
Dati: Friday 10 October 2025, 17:00
Location: Auditorium D, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke
If you would like to attend the defence online or the reception, please register before October 3 via Isabelle.Despeghel@UGent.be.