The diseases that make headlines—the pandemics that wreak havoc and terror—are frequently the first things that spring to mind when we consider global health issues. However, millions of people are silently suffering from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which lie in the shadows. Despite not making the news, these illnesses secretly kill and cripple far too many people worldwide. The fact that these illnesses, which impact some of the most disadvantaged people on the planet, are treatable and preventable makes it an important story.
Imagine a little community in a developing nation. The fear of NTDs—diseases that spread through poverty, lack of access to clean water, and insufficient healthcare systems—wakes the local population up every day. In addition to being harmful to health, diseases like dengue fever, schistosomiasis, and river blindness also deprive communities of productivity, prevent children from attending school, and hinder economic development. This is a reality that has an impact on actual people, not just a number.
The tide is shifting as we stand on the brink of scientific discoveries. For those who are afflicted by these illnesses, new developments in public health and medicine provide hope. Laboratory-generated innovations in vaccine development, diagnostics, and treatment approaches are making their way to the most vulnerable communities. Scientists, NGOs, and governments are putting up endless effort to change the narrative from one of hopelessness to one of action.
