|dc.description||Diseases targeted for elimination in the WHO South-East Asia Region include kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis), leprosy, yaws lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis. This is a group of diseases that falls under the title of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) affecting the poorest communities and associated with a very high socioeconomic burden. Member States have endorsed several resolutions, including World Health Assembly resolution WHA66.12 on Neglected Tropical Diseases calling for control, elimination or eradication of these diseases. There is strong donor support and commitment on this, following the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Elimination of targeted diseases is a regional priority and one of the seven flagship priorities of the Regional Office.
This working paper, focusing on five major diseases – kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis), leprosy, yaws lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis – was submitted to the High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting for its review and recommendations. The recommendations made by the HLP meeting for consideration to the Sixty-eighth Session of the Regional Committee are:
Actions by Member States
(1) Sustain strong political commitment and programmatic activities to accelerate progress in eliminating the targeted diseases.
(2) Strengthen monitoring and evaluation and improve reporting to WHO.
(3) Share experiences and best practices.
Actions by WHO
(1) Continue providing technical support to the Member States to eliminate targeted diseases.
(2) Organize an experience-sharing meeting in the Region.
(3) Document the progress made post-MoU on kala-azar.
(4) The title of this working paper should be amended to “Selected neglected tropical diseases targeted for elimination: kala-azar, leprosy, yaws, filariasis, and schistosomiasis” before submission to the Regional Committee.||EN