Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are the most common infections of the world’s poorest people and the leading causes of chronic disability and poverty in low- and middle-income countries [1–3]. NTDs (Table 1) especially affect children and young women of reproductive age [4], and consequently deprive them of their health and economic potential [3]. NTDs also impair agricultural productivity and are an important reason why the world’s poorest 1.4 billion people who live below the poverty line cannot escape destitution and despair [3]. Despite the devastating effect of these diseases on health and development, with evidence that their global burden is as great as that of any other serious disease [1–3], financial support for control and elimination efforts, as well as research and development (R&D), have been inadequate [2,5]. Indeed, in Millennium Development Goal 6 (to ‘‘combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases’’), NTDs were not even specifically mentioned but merely considered as part of the ‘‘other diseases’’ [6]. However, policy makers are slowly beginning to appreciate the importance of NTDs.
BT - PLoS neglected tropical diseases C1 -http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20520793?dopt=Abstract
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000718 IS - 5 J2 - PLoS Negl Trop Dis LA - eng M3 - Editorial N2 -Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are the most common infections of the world’s poorest people and the leading causes of chronic disability and poverty in low- and middle-income countries [1–3]. NTDs (Table 1) especially affect children and young women of reproductive age [4], and consequently deprive them of their health and economic potential [3]. NTDs also impair agricultural productivity and are an important reason why the world’s poorest 1.4 billion people who live below the poverty line cannot escape destitution and despair [3]. Despite the devastating effect of these diseases on health and development, with evidence that their global burden is as great as that of any other serious disease [1–3], financial support for control and elimination efforts, as well as research and development (R&D), have been inadequate [2,5]. Indeed, in Millennium Development Goal 6 (to ‘‘combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases’’), NTDs were not even specifically mentioned but merely considered as part of the ‘‘other diseases’’ [6]. However, policy makers are slowly beginning to appreciate the importance of NTDs.
PY - 2010 EP - e718 T2 - PLoS neglected tropical diseases TI - "Manifesto" for advancing the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases. UR - http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/asset?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0000718.PDF VL - 4 SN - 1935-2735 ER -