►On the 30th January 2024, the third edition of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases will be celebrated in Cameroon under the theme, ‘’Unite. Act. Eliminate’’. Activities, including sensitization campaigns are actively prepared in Yaoundé.
Afrique54.net | Since the 31st May 2021, the seventy-four World Health Assembly recognized ‘’30th January’’ as the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day through the unanimous approval of decision WHA78 (18) by the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States.
What are the World Tropical diseases all about?
The tropical disease can be regarded as any disease that is indigenous to tropical or subtropical areas of the world or that occurs principally in those areas. That is, tropical diseases are generally observed in indigenous areas (villages), where living conditions are critical. Examples of tropical diseases include malaria, cholera, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and dengue.
According to scientists, a list of 17th neglected tropical diseases was recently published and the common known ones include: Buruli ulcer; Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; leprosy; lymphatic filariasis; mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses; noma; onchocerciasis; rabies; scabies and other ectoparasites; …
The aim of World NTD
Known as the main causes of financial hardship for patients and their families, the organisation has set up plans on how to reduce and eradicate some neglected tropical diseases in the world, favouring well-being and health to vulnerable populations living in rural areas, mostly observed in poor and developing African countries.
In addition to this, its aim also lies in the fact that Neglected Tropical Diseases have other negative outcomes, such as disability, discrimination, stigma, and social exclusion. Despite this, NTDs have traditionally been a low priority, almost non-existent on the global health policy agenda.
Given the fact that NTD do much exist in the agenda of concern or in the list of high priority, they have been neglected in the recent past decades. This has led to the fact, local and central governments have been allocating very less funds to the fight against the said diseases. And to this, we can associate the social stigma that led to seeing some patients as members of witchcraft parties.
NTD’s prevention methods
Intaking of timely vaccines, practicing good hygiene practice, drinking clean water, the maintaining of sanitary food handling and Controlling vectors growth (agents that spread diseases), such as flies, and mosquitoes, are known as the major advise to be observed in order to prevent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
© Afrique54.net |Joseph Ayangma
READ ALSO
- Explainer: What’s worth knowing about upcoming World Media Summit
- (CIIE) Xinhua Headlines: China sends strong opening-up signals at post-COVID import expo
- World Media Summit expected to bring more fruitful cooperation
- Interview: World Media Summit to deepen understanding of China-Africa cooperation, says Ghanaian media executive
