World NTDs Day: Unite. Act. Eliminate.
Jakarta, IO – Indonesia still faces a burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), despite prevention and control efforts and the availability of effective treatment. “NTDs cause high rates of morbidity, disability, stigma, and especially impacts poor and marginalized communities, including children, women, and the elderly,” said Momoe Takeuchi, WHO representative for Indonesia, during a speech at the commemoration of World NTDs Day 2024 ago. held in Jakarta on Wednesday (6/3/2024).
Every year World NTDs Day is one of 13 health days; this year’s theme is “United. Act. Eliminate”. The purpose of World NTDs Day is to raise the profile of neglected tropical diseases, the suffering they cause and to garner support for their control, elimination, and eradication, in 2030. Globally 21 NTDs caused by pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms are recorded.
“Eleven of these diseases were found in Indonesia. We are calling on everybody, including leaders and communities, to unite and act to address the inequalities that drive NTDs and to make bold, sustainable investments to free the estimated 1.62 billion people, in the world’s most vulnerable communities, from a vicious cycle of disease and poverty,” she said.
Tropical and Subtropical
On the same occasion, dr. Maria Endang Sumiwi, MPH, Director General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, said that NTDs are old diseases that are related to social and economic welfare, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Of the 11 diseases, in Indonesia only 8 diseases are included in the NTDs category, because dengue fever, chikungunya, and rabies are already managed optimally.
“NTDs in Indonesia still affect one million people. The Ministry of Health is committed to eradicating NTDs, especially leprosy, yaws, filariasis, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis,” she explained.
Specifically for leprosy, the elimination target is 1 per 10,000 population. However, in 2023 there will be 14,376 new cases reported in 11 provinces. The prevalence of leprosy in 124 districts/cities is still above 1 per 10,000 population, and the prevalence of new sufferers with grade 2 disabilities has reached 5.75%.
Read: Vaccine Of DBD Prevents Dengue Fever
“In 2024 the provincial Health Service found 69 new cases of yaws in Maluku, North Maluku, West Papua, Southwest Papua, and Central Papua. Only six provinces are 100% free of yaws, namely Lampung, Banten, Central Java, Bali, Central Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan. Schistosomiasis cases were found in Poso and Sigi in Central Sulawesi. Worms are still widespread in several districts/ cities, but it is hoped that their prevalence can be reduced to below 10%,” she added.
It was revealed that NTDs treatment is available at community health centers and is free of charge. However, stigma and low adherence to treatment are still obstacles, in addition to the lack of early detection. Implementing health protocols and strengthening supervision are steps that must be taken by all parties to eliminate NTDs. (est)