Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) are a group of diseases that are prevalent
in tropical regions which have been largely ignored by the rest of the world.
NTDs are a huge health problem affecting over a billion people worldwide.
NTD’s generally only affect people in third world countries and according to the World Health Organisation, NTDs are “a proxy for poverty and disadvantage”. Judging from the definition of NTDs, one might think it’s fortunate that these aren’t a problem in Australia? Unfortunately, this is far from the truth; NTDs remain a significant health problem among many Indigenous communities. In some Indigenous communities in Australia some NTDs even have higher prevalence rates than anywhere else in the world. NTD’s have a significant effect on a population’s health and wellbeing, and contribute heavily to the cycle of poverty.
It is important that Australia faces this issue that burdens so much of the Indigenous community. Despite the fact that NTDs are extremely treatable, the widespread epidemic of NTDs goes to show how very much neglected they are. The research suggests that to control NTD’s in Australia requires greater awareness and advocacy at a national level.
This blog serves to educate and raise awareness of the impact that NTDs have in communities, not just internationally, but within Australia. Help us make NTDs a national issue in Australia and let’s take the neglected out of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
NTD’s generally only affect people in third world countries and according to the World Health Organisation, NTDs are “a proxy for poverty and disadvantage”. Judging from the definition of NTDs, one might think it’s fortunate that these aren’t a problem in Australia? Unfortunately, this is far from the truth; NTDs remain a significant health problem among many Indigenous communities. In some Indigenous communities in Australia some NTDs even have higher prevalence rates than anywhere else in the world. NTD’s have a significant effect on a population’s health and wellbeing, and contribute heavily to the cycle of poverty.
It is important that Australia faces this issue that burdens so much of the Indigenous community. Despite the fact that NTDs are extremely treatable, the widespread epidemic of NTDs goes to show how very much neglected they are. The research suggests that to control NTD’s in Australia requires greater awareness and advocacy at a national level.
This blog serves to educate and raise awareness of the impact that NTDs have in communities, not just internationally, but within Australia. Help us make NTDs a national issue in Australia and let’s take the neglected out of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
References
Kline, K, McCarthy, JS, Pearson, M, Loukas, A & Hotez, PJ 2013,
'Neglected Tropical Diseases of Oceania: Review of Their Prevalence,
Distribution, and Opportunities for Control', PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 7, no. 1, p. e1755.
Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0001755.
Working to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases 2010 [Internet]. World Health Organisation [cited 2011 Sept 2]. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr&id=Sh6x7aybTk8C&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=neglected%20tropical%20diseases%20in%20australia&ots=xpt3fAePLs&sig=qWaF_9R9xkGhzNo5X1gdhzhj0dg#v=onepage&q=neglected%20tropical%20diseases%20in%20australia&f=false
Adams, M, Page, W, & Speare, R 2003. 'Strongyloidiasis: an issue in Aboriginal communities', Rural and remote health. Vol.3, no. 1, pp.152. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7864410_Strongyloidiasis_an_issue_in_Aboriginal_communities
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