This progress has been hailed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a remarkable chapter in the fight against these debilitating illnesses.
Among the countries celebrating a significant victory are Mauritania and Papua New Guinea, both of which have officially declared the elimination of trachoma as a public health issue. Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection and the leading infectious cause of blindness globally. With these announcements, 23 countries have now eliminated trachoma, one of the most widespread NTDs.
NTDs encompass a group of parasitic, viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases that affect over one billion people worldwide, with Africa disproportionately affected. The illnesses often thrive in impoverished rural regions where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.
For Papua New Guinea, this marks the first time an NTD has been eliminated, a milestone achieved alongside Mauritania and nine other countries including Viet Nam, India, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, Brazil, Jordan, Chad, Guinea, and Niger. The WHO recognised these countries during a special event at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, where Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the moment as a "golden age of disease elimination."
The elimination of NTDs has not only improved health outcomes but also contributed significantly to reducing poverty, enhancing education, promoting gender equality, and addressing social inequalities. In Mauritania, the success was the result of a comprehensive effort involving government agencies, private partners, and community health workers. The country effectively applied WHO’s SAFE strategy, Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements, targeting both prevention and treatment.
Dr Isatou Touray, Interim Executive Director of Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, praised these achievements. She emphasised that the elimination of trachoma in Mauritania and Papua New Guinea offers hope to other countries still battling the disease and highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and collaboration.
However, despite this progress, challenges remain. Global funding cuts, particularly to official development assistance, pose threats to the continued fight against NTDs. At the recent World Health Assembly, world leaders discussed the urgent need for innovative financing strategies to maintain momentum.
WHO’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap aims for global elimination of these diseases by 2030. This ambitious target is closely linked to broader goals of achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, particularly in vulnerable communities.
--ChannelAfrica--
