As the world marked this year’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for collaborative efforts to overcome the persistent challenges that are slowing progress in eliminating these diseases.
Who Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, made the call on Tuesday in collaboration of the World NTD Day, with the theme: Unite. Act. Eliminate.
She said Africa bears 40 percent of the global burden of NTD cases. “We need to overcome the persistent challenges that are slowing progress in eliminating these diseases.
“Although commendable progress that has been made, we need to act, to ensure that high-level political commitment is translated into transformative action in the NTD space.
We need to unite, by building new partnerships to ensure enough and sustainable funding to continue the momentum of the progress already made against these diseases.
“And we need to provide countries with the resources they require to eliminate these ancient diseases. I remain totally committed to supporting countries in our region in the commendable efforts to eliminate NTDs, once and for all.”
Moeti, however, noted that 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.
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