NTDs can be prevented or eliminated through drugs and safe cost-effective treatments. Effective interventions can help prevent their spread through labs confirming suspected cases, early patient treatment, creating health awareness, mobilizing resources and training health workers. Enhancing provisions of clean water, sanitation and hygiene is also very crucial, as people living in contaminated surroundings will be more exposed to NTDs. Fighting against NTDs at a global level is a complex task which requires various resources and involves collaboration from various public and private sectors. Pharmaceutical companies, donors, NGOs, endemic countries, UN agencies and many other organisations have dedicated their time, technical knowledge and resources to treat and prevent NTDs within some of the poorest regions.

Inspired by WHO’s objectives to provide access for all populations to interventions for the control and elimination of NTDs by 2020, a London Declaration was proclaimed in January 2012. The global initiative united organisations such as UKaid, GlaxoSmithKline, The World Bank, SANOFI and Sabine Vaccine Institute USA to combat NDTS. They committed to sustain and expand programmes that ensure necessary supply of drugs, enhance collaboration on NDTs at national and international level, advance research and development, and enable adequate funding and providing technical support, tools and resources to support the NTDs endemic countries.

In order to translate the London Declaration into action, Sabine Vaccine Institute sponsored a round table at the Headquarter of The World Bank in Washington D.C in November 2012.  Participants at the meeting included representatives from Muslim Aid, Gates Foundation, Sabine Vaccine institute, The World Bank and SANOFI. At the meeting it was highlighted that 40% of the affected NTD countries are Muslim nations from African region, which are affected by severe poverty. The meeting also highlighted that charities such as Muslim Aid can serve as a channel through which Muslim communities in the UK and USA can participate in the NDT eradication efforts.

The health programmes developed by Muslim Aid support the disadvantaged and deprived communities affected by the various form of NDTS. For example, Muslim Aid hospitals in Bangladesh are tending to the needs of patients with the diseases like Scabies, Amoebiasis, Cholera, Dengue and Salmonellosis. In Pakistan, Muslim Aid is running an awareness campaign campaign in order to educate people about the signs and dangers of Dengue Fever.  In Sri Lanka, Muslim Aid has a medical camp treating Dengue Fever as well as an awareness campaign for the prevention of Dengue Fever through homeopathy treatment. Two members of staff from Muslim Aid Somalia have undergone training to develop a better understanding of the Visceral Leishmaniasis disease and the ways in which effective solutions can be implemented.

As a humanitarian agency Muslim Aid is actively taking measures to treat people affected by the NTDs. Furthermore, Muslim Aid’s participation at the Washington round table shows its commitment to play its role in taking forward the London Declaration through an action Plan.

For more information visit the following links:

http://www.unitingtocombatntds.org/endorsements

http://www.unitingtocombatntds.org/sites/default/files/november_presentations/UTCNTDS_CreatingSynergies_Adiele_Onyeze.pdf

*The copyright of this article is held by the Information and Public Affairs Department of Muslim Aid, UK. Use of its contents is allowed subject to acknowledgement. The opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent the point of view of Muslim Aid.

By:

Amal Imad

Information & Public Affairs Assistant

Muslim Aid