Dolly Dholakia

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) pit the poorest people in poverty cycles. Controlling these diseases, which affect one out of every six people on the planet, is a personal as well as a professional goal. More than 1 billion of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people are affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These diseases are a result of the poor's living environment and social conditions, and the ill health and disability they cause are a major factor in keeping them in poverty. They are diseases that affect the poorest people who live in countries with insufficient resources to combat them. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a new 10-year plan to tackle neglected tropical diseases, mainly helping poor people that live in areas where access to quality health services, clean water, and sanitization is scarce. 

This WHO’s new 10-year plan is a road map named `Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030´ aims to accelerate programmatic action and renew momentum by proposing concrete actions focused on integrated platforms for delivery of interventions, and thereby improve program cost-effectiveness and coverage. It was endorsed by the World Health Assembly (WHA 73(33)) in November 2020. By setting specific goals and milestones, the road map, which was created through a broad consultation process involving countries, partners, stakeholders, the scientific community, and academia, offers opportunities to review, analyze, and change programmatic actions as and when appropriate over the next decade. Another distinguishing characteristic is that it encourages national and local governments, as well as neighborhoods, to take further responsibility. The following are the global goals for 2030:

• At least 100 countries would have removed at least one NTD to reduce the number of people seeking care for NTDs by 90%.
• two diseases must be eradicated (dracunculiasis and yaws)
• Reduce the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with NTD by 75%
• Reduce by 90% the number of people requiring treatment for NTDs

As we look forward to countries meeting these goals, it will be important to ensure that NTD-focused measures are included in the basic package of health care, given the pressure that NTDs put on the health system. We have the ability to improve on existing mechanisms for providing donated drugs to those in need, resulting in greater and more equal access to health care. The battle against NTDs is still as persuasive, accessible, and attainable as it has always been.