Global Report On Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Of 2024:
Ahead of the World Health Assembly 77th session, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global report on neglected tropical diseases (NTD) of 2024.
- The report provides an account of the progress made in 2023 towards the implementation of the Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030.
Key highlights of the WHO Report:
- As of December 2023, a total of 50 countries have successfully eliminated at least one NTD, marking the halfway point towards the 2030 target of 100 countries.
- 5 countries were acknowledged by WHO for eliminating one NTD, and 1 country for eliminating two NTDs.
- In July 2023, Iraq became the 50th country to eliminate at least one NTD. This event marks the halfway point towards achieving the 100-country target set for 2030.
- Noma was added to the list of NTDs in 2023.
- In October 2023, Bangladesh became the first country to be validated by WHO for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem.
- India was certified free of NTDs like dracunculiasis and yaws.
- India, which has the highest disease burden, treated about 117 million fewer people for lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in 2022 compared to 2021.
- 40.56% of India’s population needed interventions against NTDs in 2022.
