Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of treatable and preventable diseases that continue to affect over one billion of the world’s most marginalised people.
We support NTD programmes in areas where these diseases are identified as a public health problem.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are diseases of poverty, transmitted through human contact, insect bites, or exposure to contaminated water and soil containing worm eggs or larvae. While most NTDs are preventable and treatable, they can lead to serious developmental and physical disabilities. These diseases, such as trachoma – the leading cause of infectious blindness globally – river blindness and lymphatic filariasis (which causes lymphoedema of the limb and hydrocele), often result in visible symptoms that can cause social stigma and discrimination.
CBM supports NTD programmes in areas where these diseases are identified as a public health problem. By building on our long experience and existing strengths, our programme work is inclusive, integrated, and holistic, built around people and locally led. It follows the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021-2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CBM Global’s Vision.
With your support, we are working to prevent and treat NTDs in some of the world’s poorest places.
“There is a need to address NTDs through a holistic lens, combining medical treatment, surgery, mental health, stigma, community based inclusive development and health education. CBM Global aims to achieve a programme that is inclusive, comprehensive, integrated, cross-cutting, holistic, person-centred and country-led.”
People living with NTDs often face multiple challenges. Stigma, discrimination and physically disabling symptoms can stand in the way of people with NTDs earning a living or accessing local services. These factors can impact negatively on their mental health. In order to address these multiple challenges, we take a holistic and inclusive approach to tackling NTDs. Together with our partners, we focus on:
Together with our long-term partner HANDS, we are working in Jigawa State, Nigeria to help treat and eliminate NTDs though a project called CiSKuLA. This name is inspired by the Hausa phrase ‘Cikkaken Shirin Kula da Lafiyar Al’umma’, meaning “inclusive and holistic” care.
Many NTD projects focus mainly on mass drug distribution to prevent the spread of infections. However, this project takes a more ambitious approach by not only working with existing drug distribution programmes but also adding other important care elements. These include improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, providing inclusive healthcare, mental health support, and offering livelihood assistance to those affected by these blinding and disabling diseases.
Discover more about our Neglected Tropical Disease work in our Learning and Resource Library.
Together, we can make a life-changing difference to people with disabilities living in some of the world’s poorest places.
