Kathmandu, April 26

Countries, including Nepal, today resolved to further fast track efforts to eradicate, eliminate and control, by 2020, the neglected tropical diseases, which affect the most marginalised and neglected population, pushing them further into poverty and a life marred by deformity and stigma.

Adopting a ‘Call for Action’ at a high-level ministerial meeting in Jakarta, 11 member countries of World Health Organisation South-East Asia Region pledged to accord highest priority to accelerating efforts against the NTDs.

“WHO South-East Asia made the battle against NTDs a regional health priority and a flagship programme in 2014. Our region continues to undertake the largest preventive chemotherapy campaign in the world,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia, in a press release.

The Call for Action stressed on promoting innovation and research to improve surveillance, diagnosis and treatment for further reducing NTD diseases burden. Member countries pledged to increase monetary and human resources in a sustainable manner, to meet newer challenges as NTDs get increasingly confined to smaller geographical pockets, closer to elimination.

The Jakarta Call for Action also sought innovative approaches to increase community participation and monitor progress on a real time basis at the lowest possible administrative level and introduce new tools as soon as they are made available, said the release.

The WHO South-East Asia Region is targeting elimination of lymphatic filariasis, kala-azar, schistosomiasis, trachoma and leprosy as a public health problem. It is also seeking to end yaws.

The region is closer to achieving elimination of kala-azar as a public health problem. Though more countries are getting closer to eliminating various NTDs, challenges remain, which need to be dealt with on a priority, the regional director said.

Though there has been progress, much remains to be done. Home to one fourth of the world population, WHO South-East Asia continues to bear the second highest burden of NTDs among six regions of WHO. It has the highest burden of lymphatic filariasis, accounting for 53 per cent of global population requiring preventive chemotherapy.

The region accounts for 74 per cent of new leprosy cases reported globally, 41 per cent of global kala-azar cases and 42 per cent of children who require preventive chemotherapy for soil-transmitted helminthes.

“The NTDs offers a mechanism to reach marginalised people to ensure no one is left behind through principles of universal health coverage and social justice,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said.