Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 9:20 a.m
Hannover – “Millions of people worldwide are still affected or threatened by neglected tropical diseases – every day. An illness is often not only accompanied by severe health problems, but also stigmatization and discrimination,” says Jan Kreutzberg, Managing Director of the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) on the occasion of today’s World Day of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Those affected usually live in the poorest regions of the world and suffer from dengue fever, schistosomiasis or river blindness – names of diseases that are far too often overlooked and neglected and are hardly known in Germany and Europe. Diseases such as Noma, which was added to the official list of the World Health Organization (WHO) as the 21st NTD in December 2023. This is a serious disease of the mouth and face in which parts of the face are literally eaten away and then scarred. Noma occurs primarily in malnourished young children growing up in economically disadvantaged regions – such as sub-Saharan Africa – and can even lead to death.
“Infections could often be avoided if education was increased and access to appropriate medication was simplified,” emphasizes Kreutzberg and appeals to the federal government and the EU to provide more financial incentives with regard to research and development. “This fight requires a holistic approach at global, national and local levels in order to achieve the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating NTDs by 2030.”
This year, World NTD Day has the motto “Together for a healthier future”. The message is clear: combating neglected tropical diseases requires major global efforts. But experts like Achim Hörauf, Professor of Parasitology at the University of Bonn, see a lot of catching up to do here – especially as a result of the corona pandemic in recent years. “The NTDs are actually always the first to be neglected due to a lack of advocacy. After Corona, there was significantly less funding from the USA, and Great Britain even dropped out completely. And in Germany too, the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, editor) has to accept significant restrictions,” says Hörauf in an interview with DSW. You can find the entire interview hereit can be used with reference to copyright and our website.
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About the DSW
The German Foundation for World Population (DSW) is an internationally active development organization. Its goal is to contribute to sustainable population development. It therefore supports young people in making self-determined decisions about their sexuality and contraception. At the same time, she is involved in political decision-making processes in the areas of health, family planning and gender equality at national and international levels.