NTD elimination must tackle mental health, stigma as funding slumps — WHO

2026-02-04 - 00:18

By Chioma Obinna As the world marks World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has raised concern that millions of people battling these diseases are enduring not only physical pain but also deep psychological distress, social stigma and discrimination often in silence. Under the rallying theme: “Unite. Act. Eliminate,” WHO and its partners are urging governments to integrate mental health services into NTD programmes, stressing that disease elimination must go beyond medical treatment to address emotional and social suffering. More than 1 billion people worldwide are affected by NTDs, while a similar number live with mental health conditions. Those with NTDs that cause visible impairments or disfigurement — including cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma and noma — face particularly high levels of stigma and social exclusion. Misconceptions about contagion continue to fuel discrimination, leaving many patients isolated from their communities. WHO says people living with chronic NTDs experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviour compared to the general population and even those with other long-term illnesses. Yet access to mental health care remains limited in many endemic regions. “The fight against neglected tropical diseases is not only a fight against pathogens, it’s a fight against the profound human suffering they cause,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “True elimination means freeing people not only from the disease, but from the shame, isolation, and despair that too often accompany it.” In response, WHO has introduced its first global guide on an Essential Care Package (ECP) aimed at addressing mental health and stigma among people living with NTDs. The guide outlines evidence-based interventions for: promoting positive mental health, identifying and assessing mental health conditions in NTD patients, managing and treating mental health disorders, and reducing stigma at individual, community and health-system levels. Health service leaders are expected to use the framework to embed mental health support directly into NTD control and elimination programmes. The call to action comes despite major gains in the global fight against NTDs. WHO reports that the number of people requiring NTD interventions has fallen to a historic low of 1.4 billion, alongside notable reductions in deaths and disease burden. So far, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, moving the world closer to WHO’s target of 100 countries by 2030. Countries ranging from Brazil and Jordan to Niger and Fiji have demonstrated that elimination is achievable. However, progress is now under threat. WHO’s Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases 2025 shows that official development assistance for NTDs dropped by 41 per cent between 2018 and 2023, raising fears of reversals in hard-won gains. The decline contrasts sharply with the economic argument for investment. WHO estimates that every US$1 spent on preventive chemotherapy yields about US$25 in returns, while NTDs collectively cost affected families and communities an estimated US$33 billion each year in lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses. WHO says this year’s World NTD Day should galvanize renewed political commitment, fresh funding, innovation and stronger integration of services — especially mental health — into NTD responses. The global campaign also highlights stories of resilience and country-led successes, underscoring that while NTDs are among the most neglected health challenges, they remain among the most solvable. The message from WHO is clear: elimination is not just about ending disease transmission, but about restoring dignity, mental well-being and social inclusion for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.