News
“Neglected”
View(s):tropical diseases It is with creased brow that Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh turned the spotlight on “neglected” tropical diseases and urged member-states to renew commitments and efforts to eliminate them.
These tropical diseases, a bane in the region, which disable, disfigure and kill people, are leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, kala azar, yaws and schistosomiasis. They also foster stigma.
“Though called neglected diseases, these are diseases of the people who are neglected, the poorest of the poor. Strong political commitments and renewed and focused efforts are needed to control, eliminate and eradicate these diseases,” was the passionate plea of Dr. Khetrapal Singh who underscored the need to accelerate efforts to meet the global elimination milestones and sustain the progress.
Leprosy – This chronic disease caused by a slow multiplying bacillus, continues to be endemic in all countries in the region. Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar and Nepal are among the high-burden countries.
Lymphatic filariasis — As many as 60 million people in the region are affected by this parasitic infection which is endemic to nine countries including Sri Lanka.
Kala-azar – This is the most serious form (visceral) of leishmaniases caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by the bite of infected sandflies. The disease affects some of the poorest people.
Yaws — A chronic infectious disease caused by a bacterium which affects the skin, bone and cartilage. Timor-Leste and Indonesia are the only two countries in the region reporting yaws cases.
Schistosomiasis – An acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms, people get infected during agricultural, domestic, occupational and recreational activities which expose them to infested water. It persists in three isolated pockets of two Indonesian districts.