Civic education key to ending Neglected Tropical Diseases

A health rights campaigner is suggesting that civic education among the public is key to eliminating neglected diseases in rural communities by the year 2030.

Health rights activist Maziko Matemba contends that though the diseases are not as fatal, however have an impact on society hence the need to educate the masses on how to prevent them.

Neglected diseases include parasitic viral, bacterial, fungal and non-communicable diseases which impact people but on a low scale.

He further asked the ministry of health to include Neglected Tropical Diseases – NTDs in the 15% budget as part of efforts of totally eliminating the NTDs by 2030

Deputy minister of health Halima Daudi says the government is committed to curbing diseases like sleeping sickness, bilharzia, leprosy as well as elephantiasis also known as lymphatic filariasis in the country.

“The newly formulated NTDs Master Plan is a demonstration that the ministry is committed eliminating such diseases,” Daudi said.

One of Lilongwe’s developing partners – World Health Organization (WHO) through its country representative Neema Kimambo has also emphasized the need for the country to fight against NTDs saying this will help strengthen health systems, increase human capital and building resilience in communities among others

President Lazarus Chakwera signed the Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases held in London, during a similar commemoration aimed at eliminating the NTDs epidemics world-wide in 2022.