146th WHO EB Agenda Item 13: Neglected Tropical Diseases – Delivered by Dr. Sadre Alam, First Secretary
Thank you Mr. Chair,
India welcomes the Report and fully supports WHO’s commitment for elimination of NTDs. We have made significant progress towards achieving the elimination targets for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) much before 2030. Dengue remains a challenge due to its rapid geographical spread but my country is sustaining the case fatality rate at less than 1% since 2008.
We have integrated NTDs under the National Health Mission and committed to providing necessary resources for their elimination. Dedicated platforms are being created for Filaria, Visceral Leishmaniais, Soil transmitted helminthiasis and leprosy to harmonize elimination efforts in case finding, vector control, mass drug administration etc. Also, Diagnostics are available in the public health systems for free of cost.
Mr. Chair,
Long term morbidity, disability management and rehabilitation require collaboration in service delivery. Populations with disabilities arising out of NTDs will pose a challenge for healthy ageing and require integration with elderly care as well.
India has been open to newer treatment strategies and launched an Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in 2018 by introducing Triple Drug Therapy and learnings from polio micro-planning are being used to increase its coverage & compliance.
The continuous finding of the Post Kala-azar Dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) poses a challenge due to its late detection and spread of infection. Long treatment of 12 weeks with miltefosine and its side effects also pose a challenge in terms of compliance. We urge WHO to donate more of Ivermectin to expand Triple Drug Therapy to hasten LF elimination and seek support in introduction of newer operationally feasible vector control tools for dengue to curtail rapid advancement of the vector.
Thank you.
