This country profile provides an overview of Sierra Leone’s progress in reaching those in need of mass NTD treatment based on 2017 data.
*This includes all countries in Africa that are endemic for at least one of the five NTDs
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Treatment coverage
Elephantiasis
81%
Blinding trachoma
N/A
Intestinal worms
83%
Bilharzia
99%
River blindness
78%
5.95 million
people received treatment in Sierra Leone in 2017
1.05 million
people did not receive treatment in Sierra Leone in 2017
Priorities for progress in Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone has a well implemented and consistent preventive chemotherapy programme for all four endemic diseases.
- It is encouraged to continue working to maintain annual high coverage implementation of all components, in all risk groups.
- Support the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) established by WHO AFRO region for the elimination of these five diseases.
Elephantiasis
Treatment coverage increased from 78% in 2016 to 81% in 2017.
People needing treatment
4.29m
People receiving treatment
3.46m
Blinding trachoma
Sierra Leone does not require mass treatment for trachoma.
Intestinal worms
Treatment coverage decreased from 98% in 2016 to 83% in 2017.
Pre-sch and school-aged children needing treatment
3.33m
Pre-school and school-aged children receiving treatment
2.76m
Bilharzia
Treatment coverage increased from 71% in 2016 to 99% in 2017.
School-aged children needing treatment
0.61m
School-aged children receiving treatment
0.61m
River blindness
Treatment coverage decreased from 79% in 2016 to 78% in 2017.
People needing treatment
5.94m
People receiving treatment
4.66m
The 
ESPEN portal (a World Health Organization AFRO region project) provides maps and district-level data for the preventive chemotherapy diseases in Sierra Leone.