What is needed to eliminate neglected tropical diseases once and for all?

What do you think of when you hear about "neglected tropical diseases" or NTDs?

Malaria, dengue and yellow fever most likely come to mind. But there are 20 infections and conditions under the umbrella of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These diseases, which primarily affect people living in poverty, affect more than a billion people worldwide and remain prevalent in developing countries.

Over the last 50 years, the work done by the international community has led to enormous strides in making these debilitating conditions a thing of the past; but there is still much work to be done.

Ending NTDs is not a utopian fantasy, but a tangible vision of the future that we can work towards every day. The World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn up an ambitious roadmap to tackle these diseases by 2030, but to carry it out it is necessary that countries, partners and Global Citizens demonstrate strong political will.

Over the past 50 years, the work done by the international community has led to tremendous strides in making these debilitating diseases a thing of the past. For example, Guinea worm disease - which former US President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center have worked to eradicate since 1986 - has dropped to just 14 cases in 2021. But there is still much work to be done.

Here's what we can do to make NTDs a thing of the past:

What are ETDs?

According to the WHO, they are a "diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas." Caused by bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections, they often cause disability, cognitive impairment, disfigurement, or death. Although the epidemiology of these diseases is "complex", they tend to thrive in tropical areas and in remote parts of the world where there is no access to sanitation, nutrition and healthcare.

NTDs are considered neglected for many reasons, including lack of awareness and global rejection as important public health issues. "Neglected" is also a word that aptly describes how low-income populations affected by these diseases have been left to fend for themselves.

What are the 3 key facts people should know about NTDs?

How do NTDs relate to poverty eradication and the global goals?

NTDs are essentially diseases of poverty. They not only affect the world's poorest and most marginalized communities, but fuel a vicious cycle of poor health and poverty. The associated loss of income affects not only households, but also communities, the health systems on which they depend and, ultimately, national economies.

When an individual contracts one, their growth and development is stunted. A child with a roundworm infection, for example, may not be able to attend school because of the illness. Her caregiver may not be able to leave the house to work, and the household, in turn, may not be able to pay for food. Without proper nutrition, they will be more vulnerable to infection and disease. In this way, NTDs perpetuate the cycle of poverty: they cause a series of knock-on effects in everything from the way we eat and drink to the way we play and work.

As a result of this unsettling cycle, it is not hard to see why NTDs are such an important part of ending poverty and achieving the Global Goals.

By eliminating these diseases, we can help achieve Goal 3: good health and well-being. Ending NTDs will also contribute to Goal 2: zero hunger and malnutrition by 2030, Goal 5: gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, and Goal 4: education for all.

How do we get it?

The WHO Roadmap to NTD Elimination and Eradication serves as a guiding document for world leaders, non-profit organizations, disease experts and other stakeholders to work together through concerted, multisectoral action. Some of the goals set out in this roadmap are a 90% reduction in the number of people needing treatment for NTDs, the elimination of NTDs in at least 100 countries, and the total eradication of two diseases.

The plan also identifies "cross-cutting" objectives such as improving access to water, hygiene and nutrition. Since NTDs can spread through contaminated soil or insects that thrive in unsanitary environments, improved sanitation could reduce up to 78% of cases worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Disease Prevention.

Each goal is measurable and quantifiable, with additional interim milestones in 2023 and 2025 to ensure all parties are held accountable.

The Kigali Declaration, to be adopted in its entirety during World NTD Week, takes this aspect one step further. It specifically calls on the public and private sectors to work together to complement these efforts, highlighting the need for concerted efforts by all parties involved and for renewed funding. In other words, governments and donors must make the commitment to eliminate NTDs a high priority.

However, as COVID-19 has severely disrupted access to health care services and programs, strengthening fragile health systems equipped to deal with seemingly concurrent health threats has been challenging. Addressing this issue and building resilience will be crucial to ensuring that the pandemic does not lead to a resurgence of disease, putting more people at risk of harm.

Who are the main actors involved?

Many nonprofit organizations and initiatives have been working to eliminate NTDs for years.

Among them is Uniting to Combat NTDs, a partnership between the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Their collaboration, first aimed at supporting the London Declaration on NTDs, is now geared towards achieving the 2030 global roadmap for the eradication of NTDs.

Sightsavers, an organization that works in communities in 30 countries, has also been at the forefront of eliminating diseases like trachoma and river blindness.

Finally, governments have made significant commitments to address NTDs over the years. At the 2018 Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, Botswana and Belgium pledged to do their part, with the former allocating €5 million (over $6 million) to the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases ( ESPEN) and a WHO initiative in Africa.

The UK has led this effort, contributing millions to public health efforts to eliminate NTDs around the world. However, the UK has recently announced major cuts to its aid budget, putting these promising efforts in jeopardy.

What steps can we take to help?

On the occasion of World NTD Day, January 30, you can do your part by supporting and amplifying the work of those leading the global eradication effort, as well as continuing to call on world leaders to step up.

For more information and coverage on neglected tropical diseases, you can read more in "The Last Milers," a Global Citizen profile series that highlights people fighting neglected tropical diseases around the world.