[New Delhi]WHO calls for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases
The World Health Organisation[WHO] today called for renewed commitments and focused efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases — including kala azar+leprosy+ yaws+ lymphatic filariasis + schistosomiasis
These Diseases continue to disable, disfigure and kill people in South-East Asian region.
“Though called neglected diseases, these are diseases of the people who are neglected, the poorest of the poor. Strong political commitments and renewed and focused efforts centred around the affected population are needed to control, eliminate and eradicate these diseases,” Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said at a meeting of health ministers and senior health ministry officials from the 11 member countries
Some of these neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are fatal if not treated. Others leave the affected population disfigured and disabled, leading to discrimination, high stigma and often social isolation, pushing them further into poverty.
Stronger surveillance for early detection and appropriate treatment for prevention and cure of all the affected and at risk population, is the mainstay of the NTD elimination strategies, Singh said while stressing on the need for robust programme management, especially at the sub-national level.
The renewed efforts should seek multi-sectoral collaboration and engage the non-health sectors to address the various social determinants of NTDs, she added.
Among the NTDs, though progress is being made against leprosy, the disease continues to be endemic in all countries of the region, which reported 155 000 cases, 73 per cent of the global cases, in 2013. Nearly 1,26,000 cases were reported from India.