Challenges in assessing the impact of infection and disease control interventions over the past decade based on the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Topical Diseases (ESPEN) database.

Over the past 2 decades there has been good progress in the control of many of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) treatable by preventative chemotherapy (PC). Continued major drug donations from pharmaceutical companies, support from philanthropic organizations and heightened international recognition of the health impacts of these diseases have each played an important role in lowering the global health burden due to NTDs. However, considerable improvement in data collection is required to accurately assess this progress as we move towards the 'end game' of eliminating these infections as a source of morbidity and mortality. The data quality, type and format collected by the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases database from the African Ministries of Health are discussed and suggestions made for improvements in collection and presentation.