Jan 30 Declared World “Neglected Tropical Diseases” Day by WHA

What is the News?

The 74th World Health Assembly has declared January 30 as ‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day.

About World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day:

• The first World Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD) Day was celebrated informally in 2020.
• UAE moved the proposal to recognize this day as ‘World NTD Day’
• Significance: World NTD Day commemorates the simultaneous launch of the first NTD road map and the London Declaration on NTDs on 30 January 2012.

About Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD):

• Firstly, Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTD) are a group of infections. These diseases are most common in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas among marginalized communities. The basic reason behind them is no access to clean water or safe ways to dispose of human waste.
• Secondly, Caused by: A variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms.
• Thirdly, these diseases generally receive less funding for research and treatment than diseases like tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, and malaria.
• Fourthly, some examples of NTDs include snakebite envenomation, scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.
• Cases: NTDs affect more than a billion people globally. However, the diseases are preventable and treatable.

About London Declaration:

1. London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases was a collaborative disease eradication program. It launched on 30 January 2012 in London.
2. Based on: World Health Organization 2020 roadmap to eradicate or prevent transmission of neglected tropical diseases.
3. This declaration aimed to eliminate or control 10 neglected diseases by 2020 by providing more than US$785 million to support research and development.
   • Great progress has been made since 2012, but not all the goals have been met by 2020.

WHO’s New Roadmap for NTDs for 2021-30:

• The World Health Organization(WHO) has launched a new road map to
  • prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a set of 20 diseases termed neglected tropical diseases by 2030.
  • Reducing the number of people in need of NTD treatment by 90%.
  • Elimination of at least one NTD in more than 100 countries.
  • Complete elimination of dracunculiasis (guinea worm) and yaws
• Strategy: The roadmap calls for three strategic changes in approach to end NTDs:
  1. From measuring process to measuring impact.
  2. From disease-specific planning and programming to collaborative work across sectors.
  3. Lastly, From externally driven agendas on programmes that are country-owned and country-financed.

Source: Down To Earth