Title:Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa:
Special Focus on Control Strategies
Volume: 25
Issue: 14
Author(s): Abdullahi Tunde Aborode, Emmanuel Adebowale Fajemisin, Emmanuel Ademola Aiyenuro, Muhammad Tobiloba Alakitan, Matthew Olaide Ariwoola, Jegede Oluwatoyin Imisioluwa, Raheemt Rafiu and Athanasios Alexiou*
Affiliation:
- Department of
Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Australia and AFNP Med, Wien, Austria
Keywords:
COVID-19, neglected tropical diseases, Africa, strategies, solution, AIDS.
Abstract: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of twenty (20) chronic, communicable,
infectious diseases endemic to the tropics and sub-tropics climate countries, which are intimately
associated with poverty, poor sanitation, limited clean water, and healthcare delivery; and dwellers
live in proximity to pathogens and diseases vectors. The pathogens are protozoans, bacteria, helminths,
fungi, and viruses. NTDs currently affect about one billion people globally, out of which
500 million are Africans living in rural settlements with low political voice and support. In recent
years, NTDs have received little research recognition, development, and funding because more research
efforts by global health stakeholders are focused on recognized diseases like cancers, hepatitis,
tuberculosis, Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and malaria that affects most
developed countries. The emergence of the viral novel COVID-19 will exacerbate the burden of
NTDs on disadvantaged communities as global health efforts are again focused on COVID-19
clearance in terms of research and development to find a drug/vaccine amidst other investigations
on recognized infections. This development can result in high death tolls due to NTDs if control
measures are not prioritized now. This perspective addresses the need for NTDs control amidst
COVID-19 clearance efforts to mitigate another viral health crisis in Africa.
