Malawi urged to step up tropical diseases fight

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments and communities to collaborate and act vigorously to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the country.

WHO country representative Dr Neema Kimambo made the call in Lilongwe yesterday during the launch of the NTD Master Plan which coincided with the World NTD Day, commemorated on January 30.

She said Malawi is still plagued by NTDs and the victims are the poorest and marginalised communities, further describing the launch of the NTD Master Plan as a key and necessary step towards addressing and eliminating NTDs.

Said Kimambo: “Without countries embracing and domesticating international targets, progress would not be possible. It is important that countries continue to lead on and take ownership of ending NTDs for sustained progress.”

Among the NTDs that still offer health hazards to Malawi communities include lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, blinding trachoma, leprosy, yaws, soil-transmitted helminthiases and foodborne trematodiases.

Kimambo said if left untreated, NTD infections can cause blindness, cognitive impairments, limitations in psychomotor development, disfigurement and even death.

She further said families and communities suffer as those affected may lose the ability to work and take part in social life because of the stigma associated with disfigurement.

“In   support of the Malawi efforts the WHO Country Office offered financial and technical support to the development of the Multi-year National NTD Master Plan 2023-2030.

“The plan is an important guiding document that articulates a roadmap to shift from control focus to an elimination paradigm,” she said.

In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi, who presided over the launch, said the master plan demonstrates government commitment to do more to end NTDs in the country.

“Ending NTDs requires that we act, as we prepare for the new annual work plan budgets. Let us show ownership and leadership by allocating more resources in our budgets to end the NTDs.

“We believe with more funding and collaboration with partners like WHO we can achieve this,” she said.

The master plan will guide the implementation of initiatives to manage and control NTDs in Malawi.