A group of 20 bacterial and parasitic infections endemic to tropical nations, untreated tropical diseases kill about 350,000 individuals per year and infect many more, causing chronic disease, blindness, and disfigurement. Among the poorest, most disadvantaged people in the world, the toll is the largest. NTDs are quick and affordable to treat with all the pain they inflict. Some are completely avoidable, making NTDs one of the “best buys” in global public health, with medicine costing as little as 50 cents per person per year. Some of the neglected tropical diseases safely eliminated through mass administration of effective medicines are Trachoma, Helminths, Onchocerciasis, Dracunculiasis, etc.

In cases of neglected tropical diseases, this shortage of vaccination is more or less prevalent. There are up to 20 neglected tropical diseases and they do not have vaccines against them, although some are in experimental stages. Researchers and policymakers deplore the fact that these diseases are complicated and it is difficult to create a vaccine against them. The pathogens have complex genetic structures, and the genome structure is not available in most cases to help researchers choose promising candidate antigens for the vaccine.

An initiative by WHO for eliminating NTDs

On 28 January 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) will officially announce its new road map for neglected tropical diseases. Ending neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030 is a high-level strategic document aimed at improving the programmatic response to NTDs and reflects on how to improve and maintain health systems through cross-sectoral, coordinated approaches, a smart investment, and community involvement. p Registration is available for the virtual launch of a 2-hour program in which Heads of State, Ministers of Health of many countries, WHO Director-General and Regional Directors, and partner organizations. This global launch will also celebrate the progress made under the first road map, against the backdrop of the current pandemic and its challenges (2012-2020). Health care staff, volunteers, and implementers, including NTD response to COVID-19, will be able to exchange national stories, insights, and experiences from across sectors. 

The obstacles are still important for a problem many see as comparatively easy to solve. There are underfunded NTDs. They are not seen by many of the most affected countries as a political priority or have the logistical resources to bring drugs into the hands of people who need them. Programs aimed at addressing NTDs often operate in silos, separated from related development efforts. NTDs are a prime example of what social innovation scholars call complex problems for Yale SOM’s Teresa Chahine, social issues involving a diverse group of actors attempting to respond to changing contexts and strategies.