In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, neglected tropical diseases represent a major public health problem. Some diseases, such as leishmaniasis, are endemic in most countries. Other diseases, such as leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and soil-transmitted helminthiases, affect only some countries of the Region or are of low prevalence. Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) and human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are only endemic in South Sudan