Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) have both high prevalence, and significant detrimental implications on these effected Indigenous Australian communities.  It is clear that this is a significant issue in Australia, however, what is the most effective way to address this issue?

Mass Drug Administration (MDA), the treatment of an entire geographical population without testing for infection, is a global technique being used to combat NTDs. Although no comprehensive data was collected, in the 1990’s MDAs to treat hookworm in some heavily affected Aboriginal communities appears to have been effective in reducing hookworm prevalence. More recently, MDAs us oral amithromycin to treat Australian communities with severe trachoma has provided some insight into the effectiveness of MDAs. Community wide treatments in severely effected populations (15-44% prevalence) lead to reductions in prevalence of between 8-31% per year. Similar strategies in moderately effected populations (5-19% prevalence) created absolute reductions in prevalence of 8-10%. Integration of MDA programs into primary care of Indigenous Australians living in effected areas could prove an effective way to address NTDs.

MDA of albendazole in the Northern Territory has been found to be ineffective at reducing the prevelnce of Hymenolepis nana showing that MDAs isn’t the only answer to addressing the issue of all NTD. Furthermore, it is easy to forget that NTDs have been eradicated in most areas of Australia without requiring any MDA. Sustainable control of NTDs requires the core of the problem to be solved and to eliminate the environmental determinates of the infections.  Access to adequate health care, raising living conditions, improving education and providing clean water and sanitation to every community in Australia is crucial to eliminating all NTDs from Australia.

Australia must continue to address the health problems facing Indigenous Australia and end third world diseases from affecting our citizens. Australia must lead the way in taking the Neglected out of NTDs.

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.

Liu, B, Cowling, C, Hayen, A, Watt, G, Mak, DB, Lambert, S, Taylor, H & Kaldor, JM 2016, 'Relationship between Community Drug Administration Strategy and Changes in Trachoma Prevalence, 2007 to 2013', PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 10, no. 7, p. e0004810. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0004810.

'Mass Drug Administration for Scabies Control' 2016, New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 374, no. 17, pp. 1689-1690. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc1600495. [2017/02/26].