Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals: a rationale for continued investment in tackling neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030
It has been a deeply worthwhile experience to collaborate and consult with the global NTD community – countries, partners and international health funders. We have renewed commitments to this shared vision and defined actions for the coming decade. However, the road ahead will be paved with challenges; to achieve the 2030 targets, substantial efforts are still needed to accelerate progress, including to go the last mile to ensure success in the case of diseases close to elimination or eradication. There is now a common understanding that sustainable control must be fostered by mainstreaming NTD programmes into national health systems, by collaborating beyond the health sector, and by developing more efficient and more affordable diagnostic and treatment tools, particularly in the context of those NTDs for which tools are not currently available. Targeted advocacy and communication will also be essential to ensure that the specific health needs of populations affected by NTDs are considered when pursuing the goal of universal health coverage. These elements will also be key to ensuring that target 3.3 of Sustainable Development Goal 3, that of ending the NTD epidemic, is prioritized by international and national health agendas.
Financing the acceleration of the progress needed to reach the NTD 2030 targets was highlighted throughout the global consultation on which the road map was based and, for some time, a lack of resources has been seen as a significant barrier to the control, elimination and eradication of NTDs. This challenge has only been intensified by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; indeed, the pandemic has altered the course of many public health objectives for the near and long terms alike.
As part of the work of preparing the road map, and in response to the need to raise the funding and resources highlighted by the NTD community, this advocacy document supports the implementation of the road map by presenting a rationale for investing in actions to combat NTDs.”e. This rationale was developed in an already complex funding landscape and in the context of a wide-ranging and diverse set of diseases. It was also prepared against a background of unprecedented cuts to aid budgets and shifting international priorities.
This document sets out, therefore, to explain the socioeconomic value of investing in the fight against NTDs and highlights priorities for global investment attention. Our work was guided by the need not only for additional funding and funders but also for the need to understand the current funding climate, in which value for money and the efficient use of resources to fill the most critical of gaps are more relevant than ever.
As well as hoping that we can make the case for investment in NTDs, we want also to make the case for greater economic understanding of the impact of control, elimination and eradication of NTDs.
We must continue to push forward as one unified community; only in so doing can we succeed in reaching the NTD 2030 targets.