… Africa bears 40% global burden with 18 m people in need of intervention
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As Africa joins the world in the commemoration of the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTD, Day , the World Health Organization, WHO, has called on world leaders to united their efforts to fight the devastating NTD diseases bedeviling the well-being and livelihoods of billions around the world.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti made this call Tuesday in her message to mark the 2024 NTDs Day in Africa with the theme: Unite. Act. Eliminate.
She noted that the significance of the NTD day is to consider the severe effects these diseases have to the billions of human population around the globe, in addition to recognize the urgent need for global and national authorities to reinforce their commitment and mobilize resources to accelerate elimination of NTDs globally and in Africa.
Moeti said, “First, I, and my fellow leaders across Africa and the world, ask that we unite to tackle these devastating diseases, that affect the most vulnerable of our communities. ”
“The presence of NTDs is a constant reminder of the inequalities in our world today. ”
“Second, I am asking you, as individuals and as communities, to act, to spread awareness, to advocate with those in power, and to help to mobilize the resources needed to do this.”
“And third, I am asking you to ensure that we eliminate – that we end – these diseases once and for all. Let’s build a world where no-one lives with river blindness, no-one is shunned by society because they are living with the ancient disease of leprosy, and no-one is debilitated by anaemia because they are infected with soil-transmitted worms.”
However, Moeti noted that the WHO Regional Office for Africa has made some progress against NTDs by the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), through support we have received from partners and governments.
Meanwhile, she disclosed that Africa bears 40% of global burden of the disease as about 18 million people in Africa currently require interventions against NTDs, even though Nineteen countries in the region have eliminated at least one NTD.
According to her, Togo achieved a world first by eliminating four of these diseases – river blindness, elephantiasis, sleeping sickness and Guinea worm disease. Yaws is on the verge of being eliminated.
Moeti further stated the WHO global roadmaps towards ending NTDs,is about Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030.
She also explained that the WHO Regional Office for Africa has provided guidance to countries through the WHO Regional NTD Road Map, which is aimed at guiding affected countries to put together their own National NTD Masterplans.
“In recent times, increased awareness of NTDs has led to better diagnosis and treatment for people living with the diseases, and prevention by controlling the vectors that carry NTDs – the teste flies, snails, worms and the animal reservoirs.”
Providing safe water supplies and sanitation is another essential action to prevent NTDs, which at the same time, improves people’s overall quality of life, Moeti stated.
