Most NTDs are caused by mosquitoes and are prevalent in areas that are poor and remote. The poor often lack access to clean water and basic sanitation, and modern medical care is not readily available. Many of these diseases affect people who live in rural or poor communities. Because of the nature of these diseases, the prevention and treatment of these conditions is difficult. A global response to NTDs is the key to eradicating them.
WHO’s report
This is why the focus on NTDs has been increasing. The WHO’s report published in 2010 was followed by the London Declaration of 2012, which pledged to eradicate or control 10 NTDs by 2020. This document was signed by global health actors, endemic countries, pharmaceutical companies, and other partners. In the Declaration, ten diseases were targeted for immediate operational support. While these targets may be ambitious, they do represent an important step in the fight against these deadly ailments.
Diagnose and treat
One reason that the NTDs are so poorly treated is that they are difficult to diagnose and treat. The lack of funding means that there is a limited supply of drugs that can help patients. Unfortunately, there are few treatments for these deadly diseases and there is no universal coverage of them. But there are some solutions to these problems. For example, there are drugs on the WHO essential drug list that have been shown to be effective for treating some NTDs.
