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"Manifesto" for advancing the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

Abstract

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.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Hotez P
Pecoul B