Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) indicate poverty due to the socioeconomic factors that contribute to their prevalence. However, not only are NTDs impacted by poverty, but NTDs themselves are heavily contributing to poverty around the world.

Poverty amongst some Indigenous populations is a significant problem facing Australia. An essential component of eliminating poverty in some Indigenous populations cannot be done without addressing the issue of NTDs as they contribute to the cycle of poverty. NTDs, as suggested by their names, are often forgotten by governments however to make progress in creating better economic equality amongst Indigenous Australians the issue of NTDs can no longer be neglected.

NTD’s have been shown to be barriers to the Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) with at least 8 of these goals impacted. The MDG to ‘Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger’ is significantly impacted by NTDs. NTDs have a direct impact on nutrition as, for example, parasites often take up many key nutrients, and indirect impacts such as the considerable impact on farmers, a group prone to infection due to soil contact, abilities to work. The NTDs also have a significant impact on the economic development of an infected population as not only does the physical and mental impact of the diseases decrease the ability of the workforce to work but it also has a significant increase on health care related costs. Evidence shows this effect continues at a household level where a study from Kenya suggests that people targeted by deworming campaigns results in a 29% average increase in their future earnings. 

It is important to make NTDs a national issue as not only will taking the ‘Neglected’ out of NTDs improve the health and quality of life in effected Indigenous communities, but, it is an integral component in breaking cycles of poverty.

References

Development Progress. 'Why neglected tropical diseases matter in reducing poverty' July 2013. Available from: http://www.developmentprogress.org/sites/developmentprogress.org/files/resource-document/why_neglected_tropical_diseases_matter_in_reducing_poverty.pdf 

World Health Organization (2010) Working to Overcome the Global Impact of Neglected Tropical Disease, First WHO Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases, Geneva:WHO. http://www.gsk.com/media/downloads/ WHO-report-on-NTD.PDF

 
Conteh L, Engels T, Molyneux DH. Socioeconomic aspects of neglected tropical diseases. The Lancet.375(9710):239-47.