The World Health Organization has offered global action to ease the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, made the call on Tuesday in her message to commomerate the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day with the theme ‘Unite. Act. Eliminate’.Moeti said there is global progress geared toward eliminating the diseases, adding that the 2024 theme of the global observance called for collective efforts to address the severe impact on the well-being and livelihoods of billions worldwide.
She highlighted the need for reflection on progress made and renewed commitment towards eradicating NTDs especially in Africa.
The purpose of WNTDs Day is to raise the profile of neglected tropical diseases and the suffering they cause to garner support toward their control, elimination and eradication, in line with the targets set out in the NTDs Road Map 2021 – 2030.
It aims to raise commitments to the 2022 Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases.
According to the WHO, NTDs are a group of preventable and treatable parasitic, viral, bacterial, fungal, and infectious diseases that affect more than one billion people globally.
The UN health body says the diseases, which cause devastating health and economic problems, yet are not as well-known as other harmful diseases, include Bruli Ulcer, Chagas Disease, Dengue Fever, Rabies, and Noma Disease, among others.
