Global action against neglected tropical diseases16 July 2008 The WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) has released a report of its recommendations to the World Health Organization (WHO) on action to take over neglected tropical diseases resulting from its meeting in April [1]. Urgent requirements include surveillance and diagnostic techniques. Neglected tropical diseases are a group of disabling chronic infections that cause disability, impaired childhood growth and development, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and reduced economic productivity. Most of the neglected diseases are caused by parasites that thrive in impoverished settings, where water supply, sanitation, and housing are poor. Apart from this strong link to poverty, the diseases form a group because they permanently deform and disable large numbers of poor people, trapping them in poverty. The neglected tropical diseases include three soil-transmitted helminthiasis (ascariasis, hookworm infections, and trichuriasis), lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), schistosomiasis, Chagas’ disease, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, and trachoma. An expanded list could include dengue fever, the treponematoses, leptospirosis, strongyloidiasis, foodborne trematodiases, cysticercosis, and scabies, as well as other tropical infections. Worldwide, an estimated 1.2 billion people — one sixth of the world’s population — are affected by one or more of these diseases. Recent evidence of their severe impact on socioeconomic development has spurred unprecedented commitment to reduce this burden. Control of these diseases is now considered part of the global drive to reduce poverty. The STAG-NTD report gives four high priority themes for controlling neglected tropical disease:
A joint report by WHO and the Carter Center [2] prepared following the STAG-NTD meeting says: "Despite the magnitude of suffering represented by these numbers, affected populations have low visibility and little political voice. This translates into a low profile for NTDs when public health priorities and health budgets are set. "NTD control represents a largely untapped development opportunity to alleviate poverty in the world’s poorest populations, and therefore has a direct impact on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This potential is further underscored by the availability of effective low-cost tools, proven control strategies, a high return on investment, and a solid track record of success." WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan said in her address to the
Sixty-first World Health Assembly in May 2008: "We now see a whole
spectrum of opportunities that have converged in a most harmonious way.
Safe and powerful drugs are being donated or made available at very low
cost. Integrated approaches have been devised for tackling several
diseases at once. References 1. Report of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG-NTD)
(Held in Geneva, Switzerland 17-18 April 2008) 2. The report Integrated Control of the Neglected Tropical
Diseases. A neglected Opportunity Ripe for Action. A Paper jointly
prepared by WHO and the Carter Center. May 2008 Further information WHO website for neglected tropical
diseases Global Plan to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases 2008-2115
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