Helen Keller Intl

From July 2014 through September 2019, Helen Keller led USAID’s flagship program, the Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention Project, working primarily in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Ethiopia as well as at the global level. With national Ministries of Health leading program planning and implementation in each country and support from in-country implementing partners (Sightsavers in Cameroon and RTI International with the Fred Hollows Foundation and Light For The World in Ethiopia), the project brought life-changing trichiasis and hydrocele surgery to tens of thousands, giving them a new chance at life.

In addition to the life-changing achievements at the country level, the project made important contributions at the global level. By documenting lessons learned, investigating promising practices, and sharing knowledge widely, the MMDP Project in collaboration with other partners developed tools and resources that the international community is already using in trachoma and LF programs in other countries. Below is a list of those resources for LF, many of which are available in French.

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)

• Filaricele Surgery Training Package
  This training package provides instructional materials, including videos, for conducting hydrocele surgery. The package includes optional modules on usage of the FASTT surgical simulator.
• Procurement Calculator for Hydrocele Surgery [Version Française]
  This calculator quantifies the amounts of drugs, disposable materials, and durable goods for high-quality hydrocele surgery. The calculator includes a provision for hernias.
• FASTT Manufacturing Manual [digital version or print version]
  This manual provides detailed, step-by-step instructions, complete with photos, for manufacturing the Filaricele Anatomical Surgical Task Trainer, also known as FASTT. The FASTT is a hydrocele surgery simulator that allows surgeons to hone their skills on an inanimate object before conducting live surgery on a patient.
• Procurement Calculator for Lymphedema Management [Version Française]
  This calculator quantifies the amount of drugs and supplies needed for high-quality lymphedema management and to treat acute attacks.
• Lymphedema Management Video and Training Guide
  This video and accompanying guide (with handouts) provides supplementary instructional materials for community health workers and other trainers conducting a training on lymphedema management.
• Lymphatic Filariasis Patient Identification Job Aid
  This two-page, illustrated guide provides guidelines for identifying cases of lymphedema and hydrocele in the community.
• A Delphi consultation to assess indicators of readiness to provide quality health facility-based lymphoedema management services
  The Delphi consultation provided an efficient and structured method for gaining consensus among lymphatic filariasis experts around key lymphoedema management quality indicators. The results from this analysis were used to refine the indicators included within the direct inspection protocol tool to ensure its ability to assess health facility readiness to provide quality lymphoedema management services.