Context: Ahead of the World Health Assembly 77th session, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global report on neglected tropical diseases (NTD) of 2024. The report provides an account of the progress made in 2023 towards the implementation of the Road map for Neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030

Important Points of the WHO Report:

Global Status for 2023:

• By December 2023, 50 countries have eliminated at least one Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), marking half of  the 2030, 100-country target.
• A total of 50 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD.
• Iraq became the 50th country to eliminate at least one NTD by July 2023, halfway to the 2030 target.
• The report identifies Noma disease (Cancrum auris) as a newly recognized NTD in 2023. 
• Bangladesh was recognized by the World Health Organization for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in October 2023. 

Indian Perspective:

• India was certified free of NTDs like dracunculiasis and yaws.
• In 2022, India treated about 117 million fewer people for lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis compared to 2021.
• India bears the largest burden of NTDs in the world, accounting for 40 per cent of the global lymphatic filariasis disease burden and almost a quarter of the world’s visceral leishmaniasis cases.

About Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries, affect more than one billion people and cost developing economies billions of dollars every year.
• Populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals and livestock are those worst affected.
• Seven of the most common NTDs can be found in a number of countries, primarily in low- and middle-income countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Controlling the vectors (e.g., mosquitoes, black flies) that transmit these diseases and improving basic water, sanitation, and hygiene are highly effective strategies against these NTDs. 

Government’s efforts regarding NTD

• In recent years, the government has made concerted efforts to address the nation’s NTD burden, especially visceral leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis which were slated to be eliminated by 2020 and 2021 respectively.
• India has already eliminated several other NTDs, including guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws.
• Measures taken include Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis prevention in endemic districts and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) to control the breeding of sandflies that transmit visceral leishmaniasis.
• The Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) was launched in 2018, as part of intensifying efforts towards the elimination of NTDs.
• A WHO-supported regional alliance established by the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal in 2005 to expedite early diagnosis and treatment of the most vulnerable populations and improve disease surveillance and control of sandfly populations (Kala-azar).

Important Point for Exam 

World Health Organization

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded:  1948
• Parent organization: United Nations
• Director General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus