Neglected Tropical Diseases

In Context

• Recently, the “Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023” was published on World NTD Day- January 30th by WHO.

Report highlights

• Global burdon of NTDs:

• According to the report, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) continue to disproportionately impact the most impoverished members of the international community, living in areas with 
  • inadequate water safety, 
  • sanitation and 
  • access to health care.
• Some 16 countries accounted for 80 percent of the global NTD burden. 
• Globally, nearly 1.65 billion people were estimated to require treatment for at least one NTD, the report highlighted.

• Impact of COVID:
  • Report highlighted the advancement and challenges in delivering NTD care worldwide against a backdrop of COVID-19-related disruptions.
  • It also highlighted the tremendous effects COVID-19 had on community-based initiatives, access to healthcare facilities and healthcare goods supply chains. 
  • As a result, between 2019 and 2020, 34 percent fewer persons received treatment for NTDs.
• Accomplishments: 
  • Despite challenges, some accomplishments were made on this front in 2021-2022.
  • More than one billion people have been treated for NTDs annually between 2016 and 2019, thanks to mass treatment initiatives. 
  • And in 2021, 25 percent fewer people needed treatments against NTDs than in 2010.
• Need for efforts and investments:
  • It underscored greater efforts and investments required to reverse delays and accelerate progress towards the NTD road map targets by 2030.

Report Suggestions

• Collaborations and partnerships:
  • WHO urged multi-sectoral collaboration and partnerships to achieve these targets. 
• Closing the gaps:
  • WHO called on additional partners and funders to step up and close the gaps preventing the full-scale implementation of NTD actions at the international and local levels.
• WHO’s initiatives:
  • Over 100 scientific recommendations, tools, and other information products were produced as a result of WHO’s NTD efforts in 2021 and 2022 to support the international NTD community, particularly poor countries. 
  • The global health body launched an NTD channel with 36 training courses on 19 different topics for healthcare professionals.

NTD’s in India

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to pose a significant health burden on some of the most disadvantaged communities in India.
• India has the world’s largest absolute burden of at least 10 major NTDs, including hookworm, dengue, lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar and rabies.
  • Lymphatic Filariasis is endemic in 328 districts across 21 states/Union territories. 
  • Kala-Azar is endemic in 54 districts across four states of India and together, these diseases affect 650 million and 140 million people in the country, respectively.
• It is difficult to estimate the actual burden of NTDs in India as there is no single organisation or government agency which has been given this mandate.

Government Initiatives

• The Government of India is 100 percent committed to ending NTDs like Lymphatic Filariasis and Kala-Azar, in line with global elimination and control targets.
• Preventive methods:
  • Preventive methods like Mass Drug Administration (MDA) rounds are periodically deployed in endemic areas during which anti-filarial medicines are provided free-of-cost to at-risk communities.
• Vector-control measures:
  • Vector-control measures like Indoor Residual Spraying rounds are undertaken in endemic areas to prevent sandfly breeding. 
  • The government also supports morbidity management and disability prevention for those affected by lymphoedema and hydrocele.
• Target-oriented elimination:
  • Some of the vector-borne diseases (mosquito and sandfly) have been targeted for elimination or prevention by the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control and Programme for Leprosy and Soil Transmitted Helminths.
• Wage compensation schemes:
  • State and central governments have also introduced wage compensation schemes for those suffering from Kala-Azar and its sequela (a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury) known as Post-Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis.

Way ahead

• We have the tools and the know-how not just to save lives and prevent suffering but to free entire communities and countries of these diseases. 
  • It’s time to act now, act together, and invest in NTDs.
• India is poised to emerge as a global leader in the battle against NTDs, but success in this decade will demand bolder action. 
• As India stands firm on its commitment to eliminate NTDs, multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration will continue to play a central role in sustaining the momentum gained.
• An integrated approach to improving access to quality healthcare, water, sanitation, hygiene, addressing climate change and ensuring gender equity, mental health and well-being must lie at the core of eliminating these diverse NTDs.

Source: TH