Fighting parasitic disease

Description

Fighting parasitic disease involves coordinated actions to prevent, control, and eliminate infections caused by parasites in human and animal populations. Essential strategies include improving sanitation, promoting vector control, ensuring access to effective diagnostics and treatments, and implementing public health education. These measures aim to reduce transmission, alleviate disease burden, and prevent outbreaks, particularly in vulnerable communities, thereby improving health outcomes and supporting sustainable development.

Implementation

Efforts by UN agencies in North Africa to eliminate the dreaded screw worm, a parasite that feeds on human and animal flesh, prevented the spread of the parasite, which is carried by flies, to Egypt, Tunisia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. A WHO programme also has saved the lives of 7 million children from going blind from river blindness and rescued many others from guinea worm and other tropical diseases.