Neglected Tropical Diseases
Neglected tropical diseases or NTDs are a group of chronic disabling infections affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide, mainly in Africa and mostly those living in remote rural areas, urban slums or conflict zones. Beyond their negative impact on health, NTDs contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves people unable to work, go to school or participate in family and community life.
The 17 NTDs covered by WTO are as follows:
- Buruli Ulcer
- Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)
- Cysticercosis
- Dengue/Severe dengue
- Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)
- Echinococcosis
- Fascioliasis
- Human African trypanosomiasis
- Leishmaniasis
- Leprosy
- Lymphatic filariasis
- Onchocerciasis
- Rabies
- Schistosomiasis
- Soil transmitted helminthiasis
- Trachoma
- Yaws
Some of these 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect millions of Indians also. The WTO has released a document on January 26 and this document says that over $2 billion is needed to prevent and treat all people at risk of contracting a common NTD by 2015. Out of these diseases, two culprits’ viz. dengue and cysticercosis – are costing India about $45 million every year. Globally, NTDs affect one in six persons, many of them among the world’s poorest. The coordinated efforts include categories of research and development, drug supply and resources for implementation. The programme aims to improve the lives of over 1.4 billion people worldwide and help them achieve self-sufficiency. Around one billion of the poor across the world suffer from NTDs, mostly in urban slums. As per WTO, NTDs kill an estimated 534,000 people each year.
