Investing on neglected tropical diseases

A new report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) urges affected countries to increase investment in tackling 17 neglected tropical diseases to improve the health and well-being of more than 1.5 billion people. This investment represents as little as 0.1% of current domestic expenditure on health in affected low- and middle-income countries for the period 2015-2030. An annual investment of US$ 2.9 billion until 2020 is required to reach the targets. But in following years annual investments will decrease as diseases are reduced or eliminated.

Neglected tropical diseases cause blindness, disfigurement, permanent disability and death, particularly among the poor. WHO's new report, Investing to overcome the impact of neglected tropical diseases, outlines an investment case and essential package of interventions for these diseases.

Need for increased domestic investment targets

The report sets specific investment targets for many of the 17 diseases. It stresses that countries must make firm and sustainable budgetary commitments if they are to meet WHO targets and accelerate progress.

The impacts

By 2017, the number of people receiving preventive treatment for at least one of the diseases should reach 1.5 billion. As diseases are reduced or eliminated, the number of people needing and receiving treatment will obviously fall. Early detection of some neglected tropical diseases will allow more children to continue school and adults to work while reducing the costs associated with treating more advanced forms of these diseases.

Moving towards universal health coverage will ensure that all people have access to preventive and curative health services for neglected tropical diseases without the risk of financial hardship when paying for them.

Moving forward

In the face of climate change countries need to strengthen their ability to anticipate and meet new challenges in terms of vector ecology and management. Diseases spread by insects are on the move because of rapid and unplanned urbanisation, population movement and environmental change. Dengue is one of them: it is now present in more than 150 countries.

Many countries have recognised the importance and cost effectiveness of investing in preventing and treating neglected tropical diseases. More than 70 countries are already implementing or ready to kick off national plans for accelerated control.

Recent advances in combating neglected tropical diseases

In 2013, Colombia became the first country where WHO verified the elimination of river blindness (onchocerciasis), followed by Ecuador in 2014.

Bangladesh and Nepal are poised to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis as a public-health problem by the end of 2015.

The number of new cases of sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis) has dropped to fewer than 10 000 annually and this for the first time in 30 years with 6 314 cases reported in 2013.

In 2009 approximately 30% of children in need of preventive treatment for soil-transmitted helminthiases were receiving it. Reaching 50% of children with this treatment by end 2015 is achievable.

Source: World Health Organisation