In
a striking and emotional moment, Abhishek Bachchan, who has been named the
first END7 Campaign Ambassador in India by The Global Network for Neglected
Tropical Diseases (Global Network), poured water over the feet of an elderly
man suffering from lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), a debilitating and
disfiguring neglected tropical disease (NTD), at the Banamalipur Resource
Centre run by Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) just outside of
Bhubaneswar in Orissa, India. The eastern state of Orissa has one of the
highest burdens of NTDs in the country.
Mr.
Bachchan met with women and men suffering from lymphatic filariasis. These
patients shared heartbreaking stories with him, including how the stigma and
shame associated with the disease’s massive swelling prevented them or their
children from marrying, securing employment and socializing freely within their
own communities. He also witnessed first-hand various disease management and
disability prevention techniques, including washing, drying, exercise, massage,
and elevation of the limbs, to alleviate some of the suffering.
“We
have a staggering proportion of fellow Indians who are infected by or at risk
of contracting at least one NTD.” said Mr. Bachchan. “My first site visit with
END7 has been a deeply moving, personal experience that allowed me to
understand how these diseases can devastate entire families through the pain
and stigma they cause,” he continued. “We are making good progress and have
free, safe treatments available. But we must build greater momentum and every
Indian should do their part to help make defeating NTDs by 2020 our country’s
next big health success story.”
Maintaining
the progress that India has gained against NTDs is crucial as India comes
closer to achieving the control and elimination of five NTDs by 2020. Mr
Bachchan will play a key role in drawing attention to NTDs as an achievable
health priority for India, educating the public about the impact of NTDs and
the importance of public participation in free NTD treatment programs, whilst
also encouraging national and state level policymakers to continue making the
cost-effective investment in NTD programs.
“The lymphatic filariasis centre that we visited today is at
the forefront of India’s efforts to combat NTDs,” said Dr. Neeraj Mistry,
managing director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, the
initiative behind the END7 campaign. “CASA has a winning model, treating over
20,000 LF patients and providing cost effective medicines to prevent thousands
more cases of LF in Orissa. By integrating NTD programs with other health
initiatives on water, sanitation and nutrition, this centre is a micro example
of what India can achieve with NTD control and elimination programs at greater
scale.”
Lymphatic
filariasis, along with other NTDs, can be prevented with a yearly dose of
albendazole or DEC.
Pills
to treat the most common NTDs are donated by pharmaceutical companies or
procured by the Indian government, offered free of charge to the public. Many
NTD programs use existing infrastructure, such as schools and community
centers, to administer the medicine, making NTD treatment one of the most
cost-effective public health initiatives available today.
END7
is the first and only global public awareness campaign dedicated to controlling
and eliminating the seven most common NTDs by 2020. It was launched in 2012 by
the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, an advocacy initiative of
the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
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