Written By Vanessa Kariuki ||
Every year on January 30, the world commemorates World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
The critical day provides a chance to keep up the momentum toward putting an end to the suffering brought on by these diseases (NTDs).
This year’s World Health Day has as its theme “Achieving health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases,” with the tagline “From neglect to care.”
This highlights the need to concentrate on the millions of people who have little or no access to care services.
There are 20 different diseases known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and they are all brought on by different pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasitic worms (helminths).
They disproportionately afflict the poorest, most marginalized people, including children, women, and the elderly, and are marked by a high level of morbidity, impairment, and stigma.
In order to make progress toward universal health coverage, it is essential to combat NTDs.
Nearly half of the Kenyan population is at risk of one or two NTDs.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for early treatment, which is frequently provided free of charge, increase donor funding and country ownership of national NTD programs.
The government is also pushing to inspire communities to participate in prevention, control, elimination, and eradication activities to ensure that “no one is left behind.”
