Question

1. In your opinion, why have neglected tropical diseases not garnered the impassioned global campaigns and support as other health areas/diseases (e.g. HIV, TB, or maternal-child health issues)?

• Describe what some national and/or international organization(s)/agency(ies) have done to support interventions/policies related to neglected tropical diseases.
• What else could be done?

Answer 1

Ans: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), are the diseases caused by virus, bacteria and parasites, it affects the poor population of the world.

Neglected tropical diseases have not garnered the impassioned global campaigns and support as other health areas/ diseases because the morality rate is not high i.e., they don't cause much deaths.

The national and international agencies are now paying attention to the neglected tropical diseases e.g., USAID (U.S Agency for International Development) has began to manage NTDs under a program called NTD program under which integrated treatment is provided for 7 NTDs by providing affordable medication for the poor. There are several other agencies sponsored by UN organizations and world bank. They provide funding for the poor and provide free medication.

For NTDs, latest treatment and prevention methods should be applied and international agencies should focus more on this issue. Although the death rate is not high but the symptoms and ailments are very painful. So, there should be the best interventions, vaccination and application of best methods to prevent the spread of NTDs in poor population.