A component of preventing and managing NTDs should be built into COVID management approaches
In the process of grappling with COVID-19 pandemic, we must not allow an even bigger crisis to emerge, which is the disruption of efforts towards the prevention and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that affect about 1 billion people globally. That’s the overriding message from the speakers at a global panel discussion jointly hosted by The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI), Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF), Disabled People’s International (DPI) and National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) today on World NTD Day and World Leprosy Day.
Sruti Mohapatra, Vice-Chairperson, DPI India & Founder and CEO, Swabhiman & Convenor Odisha State disability Network said, “We must now focus on building resilience in our systems and create an enabling environment for one of the most vulnerable communities in the country, who are a ‘burden’ on their families. Their social security and access to welfare schemes become crucial, especially when economic uncertainty hits their households hard, having a cascading effect on their quality of life.”
Launching a report on the impact of COVID-19 on people affected by leprosy and other disabilities, Dr Anil Kumar, Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, highlighted how leprosy-related services continued at the grassroots level despite the pandemic.
“In the last two years, we have been focussing on integrating National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)with other health programmes to further mainstream leprosy prevention and leprosy care. While pandemic tried to put brakes on our efforts, especially towards screening and detecting cases, but we have again gained momentum,” says Dr Kumar.
The challenges, the panel agreed, have been layered and multi-dimensional. Disruption in drug supply, loss of livelihoods, lack of access to nutritious food, and reduced scope of timely care added to the stress among people affected by leprosy and other NTDs, which adds another dimension to the already complex challenge.
Dr Premal Das, Executive Director, The Leprosy Mission Trust India added, “As an organisation focussed on healthcare and rehabilitation of leprosy and other NTDs, we realised how much more difficult it is for people to handle the dual anxiety of disease progression and traveling to a healthcare amidst restrictions and risk of COVID-19 transmission.”
He mentioned the initiatives such as mobile therapy clinics, video counselling, and tele-counselling that his organisation has been undertaking to mitigate the impact.
Dr Nanri Takahiro, Executive Director, Sasakawa Health Foundation said, “The pandemic threatened to undo whatever gains we managed to eliminate leprosy. Resource mobilisation was a challenge and even routine activities were disrupted to an extent. However, there is a silver lining. The pandemic also demonstrated the power of collectivism. I see immense potential in international collaborations and co-creating solutions for ending transmission and neglect.”