Neglected tropical diseases and the sustainable development goals: an urgent call for action from the front line

Table 1 The 20 neglected tropical diseases recognised by the WHO* Category Disease Protozoan infections Chagas disease Human African trypanosomiasis Leishmaniasis Helminth infections Taenia solium (neuro) cysticercosis/Taeniosis Dracunculiasis Echinococcus Foodborne trematodiases Lymphatic filariasis Onchocerciasis Schistosomiasis Soil-transmitted helminthiases (ascariasis, Hookworm diseases, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis) Bacterial infections Buruli ulcer Leprosy Trachoma Yaws Viral infections Dengue and chikungunya fevers Rabies Fungal Infections Mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis, deep mycosis Ectoparasitic infections Scabies, Myiasis Venom Snakebite envenoming *Source. [...]the 15 years of naming this constellation of diseases of poverty as ‘Neglected Tropical Diseases’ have not really changed the paradigm, as we have only kept adding to the list of NTDs with none coming off permanently.6 7 This is proof that much more is needed to eliminate NTDs, including clear objective criteria for getting on or off the list. All of these were important drivers that simplified therapy, increased treatment coverage and crystallised the necessary environment for the establishment of operational and programmatic components for an expanded and sustainable global response to HIV/AIDS.10 From hundreds on ART in 2003, the result was 21.7 million on ART by 2017.11 Such initiatives reached fruition because of a public health approach to ART scale-up as part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Since the NTD package includes a diversity of diseases, the role of disaggregated or appropriately combined treatment targets may help. [...]the list of NTDs is diverse, with parasitic, bacterial, viral, fungal infections and snakebite envenoming.3 Unlike diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, there are practical difficulties in building strong communities of practice, as NTD work is often confined to silos of specific diseases.4 While recognising the specificities of each condition, new ways of building an integrated approach that compels stake holders to look beyond ‘the trees to see the forest’ are needed. [...]there is an urgent need for a quantum shift in funding for R&D and for treatment access.