Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nadine Dreyer, Health & Medicine Editor
Published on 2024-01-29 13:09:18
Many diseases that affect the poorest and most marginalised communities are referred to as “neglected tropical diseases” because they persist in these areas even after being wiped out in more developed parts of the world. These diseases are caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins, and they include dengue, chikungunya, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and yaws. They inflict tremendous suffering due to their disfiguring, debilitating, and sometimes deadly impact, leading to stigma, social exclusion, and superstition.
While more than 1 billion people are still affected by neglected tropical diseases today, there is reason for hope as some African countries have made significant progress in eradicating these diseases. Patients’ beliefs about illness matter, as demonstrated in a rural area of Ghana where many people did not believe in or understand the mosquito-borne disease lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis. Understanding patients’ belief systems could help healthcare workers treat patients more effectively.
In Nigeria, a quarter of the people affected by neglected tropical diseases in Africa live in Nigeria, with an estimated 100 million people at risk for at least one of these diseases. However, the country has made progress in eradicating some of these diseases through interventions such as door-to-door visits by volunteers to administer medicines.
In Togo, west Africa, skin conditions caused by bacteria, viruses, mosquitoes, or mites are common neglected tropical diseases. The country has found a large number of these infections, including scabies, leprosy, yaws, and Buruli ulcer, which are stigmatised and difficult to diagnose. Togo has made significant progress, becoming the first country in the world to have eliminated four neglected tropical diseases.
While there are good reasons for hope, the global health community and African governments cannot rest on their laurels, as there is still a long way to go in tackling neglected tropical diseases. Other African countries, including Benin, Rwanda, and Uganda, have also made significant progress in eliminating these diseases, but continued efforts are necessary.
