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World NTD Day 2024: Unite. Act. Eliminate
Today, 30 January, marks World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, one of 11 Global Health Days recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). As an international public-private partnership fighting to eliminate schistosomiasis, one of 21 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) classified by the WHO, we are proud to show our support.
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 the cause
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is an NTD linked closely with poverty. It is one of the most prevalent 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.
Established as the first partnership of its kind in schistosomiasis, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium has been working since 2012 to reduce the global disease burden of this particular NTD by addressing the medical needs of infected children between the ages of three months and six years.
Where we stand in our journey
In December 2023, we proudly announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive scientific opinion of our new pediatric treatment option for preschool-aged children with schistosomiasis.
Speaking on the importance of this latest milestone, Dr. Jutta Reinhard-Rupp, Chair of the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium Board and Head of the Global Health Institute at Merck said: “After more than 10 years of intense collaboration, we are thrilled to have received a positive scientific opinion from EMA. I am extremely proud of our Consortium of dedicated partners. Together, we have come a long way in our vision of providing a treatment option for the most vulnerable population – the youngest. This will contribute to reducing the global disease burden of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects approximately 240 million people worldwide. Now, we all need to turn our full attention to access and delivery.”
Diseases of poverty, like schistosomiasis, must be overcome to deliver on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure universal health coverage. By developing, registering, and providing access to a new treatment option for schistosomiasis, the Consortium is making a tangible contribution to the elimination of this NTD as a public health problem and thereby also addressing the SDGs, in particular, SDGs 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) & 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).