Often unrecognized, neglected tropical diseases affect more than 1.65 billion people worldwide, including 1 billion children. So, what are neglected tropical diseases? They are illnesses primarily found in tropical areas and are considered neglected because they aren't part of the global health agenda.
Due to the fact that those affected are mostly impoverished, they are often ignored and unable to access healthcare. This is aggravated by the limited knowledge many healthcare professionals have about NTDs. The accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare services impact the risk of NTDs. Although there are types of antibiotics available to address NTDs, the lack of financial resources to acquire them are a significant obstacle.
Many of these diseases are preventable from an early stage, even without vaccines. With education, you can prevent NTDs. For instance, to avoid contracting melioidosis, one should refrain from contact with soil and standing water, especially if you have open wounds.
All diseases have preventive measures, and given the limited information and care available for NTDs, it is important for everyone to be educated on how to protect themselves. Moreover, more healthcare professionals should educate themselves about Neglected Tropical Diseases and, in turn, pass this knowledge to others.
Neglected Tropical Diseases comprise of a group of illnesses affecting over 1.65 billion people globally, resulting in a loss of productivity, as evidenced by "US$1.2 billion/year in lost productivity in 7 southernmost countries". It is crucial for people to take greater measures to protect themselves from these perilous diseases, with the first step being education.
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