Global Report On Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023 Released By WHO.

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of diseases that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas. Examples: Dengue and chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases etc.
• Report provides a consolidated, up-to-date assessment of progress towards control, elimination and eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups (NTDs) globally, regionally and nationally.
• Progress is reported in the context of NTD roadmap 2021-2030, WHO’s blueprint to drive global efforts in the fight against NTDs.

Key highlights:

• Burden of NTDs co ntinues to be unequally borne by a small number of countries: 16 countries bear 80% of this burden.
• Over the past decade, the number of people requiring interventions against NTDs decreased by 25%.
• As of December 2022, 47 countries had eliminated at least one NTD.
• Threats
  • Slower than expected progress in high burden countries,
  • Uneven progress across certain diseases,
  • Persistent underlying risk factors (poverty, climate change) and
  • Rapid population growth.
• Recommendations
  • Invest in innovative operations and financing solutions that foster integration and cross-sectoral collaboration.
  • Boost global support for countries with highest burdens,
  • Facilitate country ownership and sustainability of NTD programmes.

Some Global initiatives

• The London Declaration on NTDs.
• 30 January recognised as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
• Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases- is a global health project that aims to mobilise political and financial resources for the control and eradication of infectious diseases, the so-called neglected tropical diseases due to different parasitic infections.