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World NTD Day 2024: A call for global action against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Today, 30 January, marks World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, one of 11 Global Health Days recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Lygature is once again proud to join the movement to shine a spotlight on the urgent need for global unity and action to tackle the inequalities driving Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
NTDs, often sidelined in global health discussions, are a diverse group of illnesses affecting an estimated 1.62 billion people in poor and vulnerable communities. World NTD Day is a moment for those working in the field to rally together to call on leaders and communities to commit sustainable funds in support of those facing the challenges of disease and poverty. The annual awareness day highlights the human suffering caused by these diseases and seeks to mobilize assistance for their control and elimination, in line with the goals of the WHO’s NTD road map 2021−2030.
Our commitment to tackling one of the most prevalent NTDs
The WHO has classified 21 diseases as NTDs, one of which is schistosomiasis. Also known as bilharzia, schistosomiasis is an NTD linked closely with poverty. It is one of the most pervasive parasitic diseases worldwide and a very important one in terms of public health burden and economic impact. The infection rate is particularly high among children and at present, preschool-age children are left untreated in public health programs due to the lack of a suitable child-friendly treatment.
Lygature plays an important role in the battle against this NTD by coordinating the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium – an international, non-profit, public-private partnership founded in 2012. The first partnership of its kind in schistosomiasis, the Consortium aims to reduce the global disease burden of the disease by addressing the medical needs of infected children between the ages of three months and six years.
In December 2023, the Consortium announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive scientific opinion of its new pediatric treatment option for preschool-aged children with schistosomiasis.
Speaking on the importance of this latest milestone, Remco de Vrueh, Senior Program Manager at Lygature, said: “For the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, this milestone is a crucial step towards reaching the millions of preschoolers with schistosomiasis. All of this has come about through successful collaboration between public and private partners in which Lygature, in its role as independent coordinator, has been able to make its mark on the Consortium for the past 11 years.”
Commenting on Lygature’s role in this and other Global Health Projects and our recent admission to the Dutch Global Health Hub, Jon de Vlieger, Strategy Director at Lygature said: “For over a decade, the Global Health team at Lygature has helped to set up and implement more than 20 partnerships that aim to alleviate the disease burden caused by AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, antimicrobial resistance, and neglected tropical diseases like schistosomiasis. At Lygature, we believe in the best of all worlds. Our expertise lies in bringing together academia, industry, and society to achieve goals that no single party can achieve on its own. Rooted in the Netherlands, we’re excited to continue on this mission in 2024, contributing our knowledge, expertise, and network as a partner in the recently launched Dutch Global Health Hub.”
Learn more about our role in the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium and other Global Health projects.