BREAKING NEWS!

47.5 MILLION FILIPINOS HAVE EXPERIENCED NTDs

BY: VALERIE ANN DISMAYA

During the cold season, common illnesses like coughs and colds are prevalent.

There are also diseases that often go unnoticed but have a significant impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide.

These are known as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

NTDs include diseases like dengue, sleeping sickness, chikungunya, rabies, Buruli ulcer, and more.

Due to the lack of attention and government funding, people, especially those in poor and remote areas, continue to suffer from these diseases.

To raise awareness, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared World Neglected Tropical Disease Day (World NTD Day), celebrated every last day of January.

World NTD Day is important because it highlights the need for action against diseases that often receive little medical funding and attention.

According to a WHO study in 2021, around 47.5 million Filipinos have experienced NTDs, particularly dengue and rabies.

Most of these cases are in provinces and areas with limited access to clean water, proper sanitation, and medical services.

But what exactly are these Neglected Tropical Diseases that we should pay attention to?

Some of the most common NTDs include dengue, leptospirosis, rabies, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) or intestinal worms, filariasis, chikungunya, yaws, trachoma, and many others.

In the Philippines, World NTD Day is celebrated with various activities aimed at spreading awareness and promoting action against these diseases.

These activities include information drives, free medical check-ups and medicines, clean-up drives, and vaccination programs.

World NTD Day is not just a celebration, it’s a call for everyone to unite against diseases that are often overlooked but can be deadly if left untreated.

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