scholarly journals Neglected tropical disease control in a world with COVID-19: an opportunity and a necessity for innovation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J Brooker ◽  
Kundai Ziumbe ◽  
Nebiyu Negussu ◽  
Siobhan Crowley ◽  
Mona Hammami
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Mathematical Modelling ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Control Programmes

Abstract Countries have seen substantial disruptions to usual health services related to coronavirus disease 2019 and these are likely to have immediate and long-term indirect effects on many disease control programmes, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The pandemic has highlighted the usefulness of mathematical modelling to understand the impacts of these disruptions and future control measures on progress towards 2030 NTD goals. The pandemic also provides an opportunity, and a practical necessity, to transform NTD programmes through innovation.

scholarly journals Whatever happened to China’s neglected tropical diseases?

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Hotez
Keyword(s):  
Disease Control ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Tropical Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease ◽  
Tropical Diseases

Abstract Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China 70 years ago, both extreme poverty and parasitic infections and other neglected tropical diseases were highly prevalent. Owing to social development, particularly economic reforms since the 1980s, poverty has since been dramatically reduced, and China became increasingly urbanized and industrialized. In parallel, China’s economic transformation translated into similar and remarkable reductions in neglected tropical diseases. Qian and colleagues report in their review published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty, the elimination or near elimination as a public health problem of lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, soil-transmitted helminth infections, schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases. Of note, neglected tropical disease control and poverty reduction each appear to reinforce the other. China’s formula for success in parasitic and neglected tropical disease control might translate to other parts of the world, such as in sub-Saharan Africa through China’s new Belt and Road Initiative.

scholarly journals Control of neglected tropical diseases needs a long-term commitment

BMC Medicine ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaobi Zhang ◽  
Chad MacArthur ◽  
Likezo Mubila ◽  
Shawn Baker
Keyword(s):  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Tropical Diseases

scholarly journals Community perception of malaria in a vulnerable municipality in the Colombian Pacific

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Yovanna Rosero ◽  
Gloria Isabel Jaramillo ◽  
Franco Andrés Montenegro ◽  
César García ◽  
Arelis Alexandra Coral
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Community Perception ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Mosquito Nets ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Colombian Pacific

Abstract Background Malaria primarily affects populations living in poor socioeconomic conditions, with limited access to basic services, deteriorating environmental conditions, and barriers to accessing health services. Control programmes are designed without participation from the communities involved, ignoring local knowledge and sociopolitical and cultural dynamics surrounding their main health problems, which implies imposing decontextualized control measures that reduce coverage and the impact of interventions. The objective of this study was to determine the community perception of malaria in the municipality of Olaya Herrera in the Colombian Pacific. Methods A 41-question survey on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to malaria, the perception of actions by the Department of Health, and access to the health services network was conducted. Results A total of 134 adults were surveyed, in whose households a total of 671 people lived. According to the survey data, about 80% of the household members included teenagers and children, out of which 61% had malaria at one time, and for 75.3%, this disease is a persistent problem. In spite of this, 57.2% of people who fell ill due to malaria were never visited by health personnel for a follow up. This population claimed that responsibility for who should prevent the disease is shared between each person and the Department of Health. However, personal actions were focused on using mosquito nets, ignoring other important practices to prevent bites. Despite campaigns by the Department of Health, 11.9% of respondents did not know how malaria was transmitted, and 8.96% thought it was transmitted through water. Also, 43.5% said that the Department of Health did not do any work to control malaria and 16% did not know if any action was taken. Conclusions In spite of the knowledge about malaria and the efforts of the Department of Health to prevent it, the community actions do not seem to be consistent with this knowledge, as the number of cases of malaria is still high in the area.

scholarly journals Neglected tropical diseases and disability—what is the link?

2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (12) ◽  
pp. 839-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Kuper
Keyword(s):  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Physical Impairments ◽  
Disability Awareness ◽  
And Control ◽  
Global Population

AbstractNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of infectious conditions that vary in their epidemiology, impact and control. They are among the most common conditions globally, affecting approximately one billion people. Many NTDs have long-term consequences, such as visual and physical impairments. As a result, people with NTDs may have difficulties in carrying out activities or participating in society—in other words, NTDs can cause disabilities. Additionally, NTDs are often strongly linked to stigma and can have mental health consequences. It is therefore important to incorporate rehabilitation within NTD programmes. Rehabilitation can be conceptualized narrowly in terms of the provision of clinical services (e.g. physiotherapy and assistive devices) or, more broadly, including efforts to improve employment, overcome stigma and enhance social participation of people with disabilities. Approximately 15% of the global population has a disability, and this large group must be considered when designing NTD programmes. Improving the inclusion of people with disabilities may require adaptations to NTD programmes, such as making them physically accessible or training staff about disability awareness. Without incorporating disability within NTD programmes, the quality of life of people with NTDs will suffer and global targets for elimination and management of NTDs will not be met.

scholarly journals Individually Optimal Choices can be Collectively Disastrous in COVID-19 Disease Control

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison Stoddard ◽  
Debra Van Egeren ◽  
Kaitlyn Johnson ◽  
Smriti Rao ◽  
Josh Furgeson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Complete Suppression ◽  
Natural Immunity ◽  
Endemic Disease ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: The word ‘pandemic’ conjures dystopian images of bodies stacked in the streets and societies on the brink of collapse. Despite this frightening picture, denialism and noncompliance with public health measures are common in the historical record, for example during the 1918 Influenza pandemic or the 2015 Ebola epidemic. The unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2—its high basic reproduction number (R0), time-limited natural immunity and considerable potential for asymptomatic spread—exacerbate the public health repercussions of noncompliance with interventions (such as vaccines and masks) to limit disease transmission. Our work explores the rationality and impact of noncompliance with COVID-19 disease control measures. Methods: In this work, we used game theory to explore when noncompliance confers a perceived benefit to individuals. We then used epidemiological modeling to predict the impact of noncompliance on control of COVID-19, demonstrating that the presence of a noncompliant subpopulation prevents suppression of disease spread. Results: Our modeling demonstrating that noncompliance is a Nash equilibrium under a broad set of conditions, and that the existence of a noncompliant population can result in extensive endemic disease in the long-term after a return to pre-pandemic social and economic activity. Endemic disease poses a threat for both compliant and noncompliant individuals; all community members are protected if complete suppression is achieved, which is only possible with a high degree of compliance. For interventions that are highly effective at preventing disease spread, however, the consequences of noncompliance are borne disproportionately by noncompliant individuals. Conclusions: In sum, our work demonstrates the limits of free-market approaches to compliance with disease control measures during a pandemic. The act of noncompliance with disease intervention measures creates a negative externality, rendering COVID-19 disease control ineffective in the short term and making complete suppression impossible in the long term. Our work underscores the importance of developing effective strategies for prophylaxis through public health measures aimed at complete suppression and the need to focus on compliance at a population level.

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