The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a Global report on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) 2023. According to the report, NTD continues to impact severely on the poorest individuals globally. The report further revealed that about 16 countries account for 80% of the global NTD burden, highlighting that approximately 1.65 billion people worldwide require treatment for at least one NTD. This article will focus on the content of this report, what neglected tropical diseases are, and the efforts made by India to combat these diseases.
Understanding Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of infections prevalent amongst marginalized communities in developing regions such as Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These diseases are caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms. NTDs spread mainly in tropical areas where access to clean water and proper waste disposal systems is inadequate. Research and treatment funding for NTDs lags compared to diseases like tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, and malaria. Some examples of NTDs include snakebite envenomation, scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.
Key Takeaways from the WHO Report on NTD
The WHO report showed that nearly 1.65 billion people globally need treatment for at least one NTD. It noted that Covid-19 had affected community-based initiatives, healthcare facility access, and healthcare supply chains, causing a 34% drop in the number of persons receiving NTD treatment between 2019 and 2020. The report called for greater efforts and investments to accelerate progress towards the NTD road map targets by 2030 and requested increased multi-sectoral collaboration and partnerships to achieve these targets.
Global Strategies Against NTDs
The WHO’s NTD roadmap for 2021–2030 is a strategic guide intended to enhance global action against NTDs in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This roadmap emphasizes evidence-based impact measurements, cross-sectoral collaboration, and country-led, country-financed programs. Another significant global initiative was the London Declaration on NTDs, adopted on January 30, 2012, acknowledging the considerable burden of NTDs worldwide.
India’s Initiatives in Countering NTDs
To intensify its efforts towards eliminating NTDs, India launched the Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) in 2018. In 2005, a regional alliance supported by WHO was established by the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to expedite early diagnosis and treatment among vulnerable populations, and to improve disease surveillance and control of sandfly populations. India has successfully eradicated several NTDs such as guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws.
Preventive measures have been fundamental in India’s efforts against NTDs. Mass Drug Administration (MDA) rounds are frequently conducted in endemic areas, providing free anti-filarial medicines to at-risk communities. Vector-control measures, like Indoor Residual Spraying rounds, are practiced in endemic regions to prevent sandfly breeding. The government also supports morbidity management and disability prevention for those affected by lymphoedema and hydrocele. Wage compensation schemes for individuals suffering from Kala-Azar and its sequela, Post-Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis, have also been introduced by state and central governments.
