WORLD NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Delegates at the 74th World Health Assembly unanimously adopted a proposal by the UAE to declare January 30 as ‘World NTD Day’.

Concept :

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections which are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms (helminths).
They include dengue, rabies, blinding trachoma, Buruli ulcer, endemic treponematoses (yaws), leprosy (Hansen disease) etc.
These diseases are contrasted with the big three infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria), which generally receive greater treatment and research funding.
1 in 5 people around the world are affected by NTDs.
India is home to the world’s largest absolute burden of at least 11 of these major neglected tropical diseases.