b'Strengthening Tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases through locally owned systems and solutions National and Local The Crown Agents-led Lot 1 of the Accelerating theimprovements to ensure partner government resources Sustainable Control and Elimination of Neglectedare transparently spent and effectively managed.Tropical Diseases (Ascend) Programme is part of By embedding our NTD programming within existing Health Systems the FCDOs 200 million investment supporting 25government systems, Ascend was able to offer governments to control and eliminate neglectedimmediate assistance to partner governments and tropical diseases (NTDs). Covering 11 countries in South During the Pandemic Asia and East and Southern Africa, we run preventionhealth authorities when Covid-19 hit. This meant we could conduct rapid assessments of country situations and clinical interventions for five NTDs.and strategies to help governments determine support and Beyond We are working with governments to increase valueneeds and opportunities to leverage NTD platforms for money, build government capacity, strengthento reduce the secondary impacts of the pandemic. ownership for NTD programming and improveActivities included being part of national Covid-19 task health systems for more sustainable approaches toforces and formulating interventions to integrate the controlling and eliminating the diseases. Working withdelivery of basic health services; behaviour change the pharmaceutical sector, governments and WHO,and communication; supply chain support; infection Ascend is also driving supply chain and informationprevention and control; and support to community-management optimisation. This has resulted inlevel health workers and clinics to continue essential increased supply chain efficiency and resilience. In lineservices. Ascend also supported PPE procurement with global efforts from WHO and FCDO, our goal is toto ensure safe delivery of NTD programming. Its help governments shift from dependence on donors forresearch has improved understanding of needs during funding and delivery of NTD services. We do this throughthe pandemic, especially among harder-to-reach training and support on public financial managementpopulations.Strengthening Sierra Leones health systemCovid-19: Facilitating donor funding by to cater for the most vulnerable anticipating resource needsIn 2016, Sierra Leone was the epicentre of the worldsTo support Sierra Leone in its Covid-19 response, we last high-profile threat to global health security: Ebola.worked with the NMSA to estimate the quantities of Now it has to confront the challenges a dangerous viralmedical supplies needed to fight the pandemic to infection poses to an already fragile system. Protectinginform donors and ensure uninterrupted availabilityIm very happy that 1.5 the most vulnerable is a core part of Crown Agentsand distribution to treatment centres.mission, as is building strong and resilient health million worth of Free Health-Caresystems which can withstand unprecedented shocksWhen Ebola spread in 2014, the lack of advanced laboratory diagnostic testing capability was a major but also tackle the ongoing medical needs of local factor for the spread of the virus. Hence, government (FHC) commodities [has arrived inpopulations. health officials were keen to draw on Crown Agents Crown Agents delivers two mutually supporting projectsexpertise in this area. The CHAMPS lab technicians Sierra Leone] this week. This is thein Sierra Leone. Saving Lives, now in Phase II, supportssupported molecular testing for Covid-19 in Makeni the government by improving the quality, availabilityand Freetown, while the projects informatics teams first FHC procurement exercise toand accessibility of maternal and child health caredesigned cloud-based systems to facilitate case data services. The project is funded by the FCDO and buildscollection and analysis.be done in this country for a verylocal capacity to support the availability of life-saving medicines. We assess quantities of health products long time. I want to thank Crownneeded, store medicines and distribute free healthcare products to ensure the most vulnerable have access to Agents for their hard work.medical care. To ensure systemic change, we helped establish the National Medical Supply Agency (NMSA) International Rescue Committee and worked with government to align public health spending with the national budget. We also work with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Ascend statistics: to provide Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS). This programme is funded by 10 million 6,729 85% the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through Emory University in Atlanta, USA, and researches causes of death in children under five. It aims to produce accurate People accessed preventative treatment Community drug Administrative coverage in data on child mortality so the Ministry can affect change distributors trained mass drug administration in this area. 24 25'