Together, these diseases represent the fourth largest disease burden of all communicable diseases globally. NTDs are most prevalent in remote rural areas, urban slums and in conflict zones. Some NTDs kill and others cause severe and often lifelong physical impairment, particularly affecting women and children.
NTDs are diseases that primarily affect people living in poverty. They reduce economic productivity, by preventing individuals from being able to work or care for themselves or their families. NTDs prevent children from growing and learning and can limit access to education.
There is increasing evidence that demonstrates that control and elimination of these diseases will significantly reduce illness, social exclusion and mortality.
Sightsavers’ Salimata Bocoum shares learnings, actions and reflections from the World Water Forum, where the importance of working together to fight neglected tropical diseases was a key theme.
Sightsavers and the Walker Institute will explore different climate change scenarios to predict areas that will be most affected by neglected tropical diseases in the future.
Pelagie is an entomologist who’s paving the way for more women to lead in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.