For decades, when it came to diseases and ailments ravishing developing countries, the attention of scientists, campaigners and other stakeholders was directed at HIV, tuberculosis, cholera, and other well known diseases.
This left behind many other lesser-known health dangers and diseases, which are categorised by the WHO as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
NTDs are called "neglected," because they generally afflict the world's poor and historically have not received as much attention as other diseases.
The WHO states that these diseases are very common in 149 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, affecting more than 1.4 billion people (including more than 500 million children) and costing developing economies billions of dollars every year.
However, in the last decade, there has been significant progress towards eliminating the suffering caused by neglected tropical diseases. Today the number of people at risk has decreased by 500 million
The most common NTDs are: dengue, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, and leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, food-borne Trematodiases, Loiasis, Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, Buruli ulcer and Chagas disease.
The WHO launched a new roadmap to combat NTDs earlier this year, challenging countries to eliminate 90 percent of these diseases by 2030.
The targets in this ambitious road map (2021 – 2030) include: decrease in the number of people needing treatment for NTDs by 90 percent, elimination of at least one NTD in 100 countries, eradication of two NTDs and decrease in the NTD-related disability-adjusted life years by 75 percent.
At the launch of the road map, the WHO issued a statement saying that to ensure that no one is left behind, several joint cooperative measures between the concerned parties are required across sectors (such as health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene) in order to maintain progress and accomplish the 2030 goals.
The new road map provides an opportunity to create platforms to make young people essential participants in combating these diseases.
The WHO stated that recent progress has depended on research as a critical component of diagnoses, treatment strategies and ways to reach hard-to-reach groups. These efforts have resulted in a more effective three-drug treatment for lymphatic filariasis, development of a new drug for sleeping sickness, pediatric formulation of a Schistosomiasis drug, alternatives to Buruli ulcer surgery and alternatives to injections of yaws.
Focusing on neglected tropical diseases is an opportunity to address health inequalities within societies, which undermines the economic and development prospects of countries at the global level. Moreover, NTD programs play an important role in achieving stronger and more resilient health systems through capacity building, information systems sharing, and the combination of financing and community participation that will ultimately contribute to or lead to universal health coverage.
As for Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population has said that the country has a long history in combating neglected tropical diseases.
Egypt has obtained the WHO’s certification that it is free from lymphatic filariasis as a threat to public health and exerts continuous efforts to eliminate leprosy, rabies, trachoma and Schistosomiasis.
The WHO’s regional and country level offices cooperate with Egypt’s health ministry to provide technical support for capacity building, provision of necessary drugs, equipment and community awareness across the country.
In a press release, the WHO representative in Egypt, stated "Egypt is a pioneering country in combating endemic tropical diseases for decades, and the World Health Organisation has been working as a partner of the Ministry of Health and Population in its effective efforts to support efforts to eliminate endemic tropical diseases."
For example, the WHO has provided around 26 million tablets for Schistosomiasis control in the last two years, and 28 million mebendazole tablets in the last three years to control intestinal worms in school children.
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