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Neglected tropical diseases in 2023 | Collections | MSF Science Portal

Each year hundreds of thousands of people die from a neglected tropical disease, while many more suffer serious illness or lifelong disability. Yet as we mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day on 30th January 2023, global progress towards eliminating these diseases is threatened by shifting global health priorities and declining investment in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.


The content collection linked below offers a snapshot of MSF’s work over the past two years on managing some of the most deadly NTDs, finding better tools and models of care for highly affected populations, and advocating for greater access to care and increased global funding. Several authors describe our programs and lessons learned from a decade of treating snakebite victims in sub-Saharan Africa. Two studies evaluate shorter, less toxic treatment for visceral leischmaniasis, while a policy analysis proposes critical steps towards eliminating this horrific disease in East Africa. Last, reports from Sokoto, Nigeria describe the collaborative development of a comprehensive model of care for noma.

Collection Content

Journal Article
|
Commentary

Snakebite envenoming at MSF: A decade of clinical challenges and antivenom access issues

Potet J, Singh SN, Ritmeijer KKD, Sisay K, Alcoba G,  et al.
2022-12-21 • Toxicon: X
2022-12-21 • Toxicon: X
The medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides medical care in more than 70 countries and admits more than 7000 cases of snakebite in its facilities each y...
Conference Material
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Abstract

Noma discharge toolkit - a person-centred approach to improve continuity of care

Ajamah S, Tanaka M, De Vore K, Vogiazou Y, Joseph S,  et al.
2022-11-26 • MSF Paediatric Days 2022
2022-11-26 • MSF Paediatric Days 2022
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The Noma hospital in Sokoto State, Nigeria, provides specialised care for noma, a rapidly progressive and often fatal necrotising bacterial disease, which continu...
Journal Article
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Research

AmBisome monotherapy and combination AmBisome - miltefosine therapy for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in patients co-infected with HIV in India: a randomised open label, parallel arm, phase 3 trial

Burza S, Mahajan R, Kazmi S, Alexander N, Kumar D,  et al.
2022-10-15 • Clinical Infectious Diseases
2022-10-15 • Clinical Infectious Diseases
BACKGROUND
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in patients living with Human-Immunodeficiency-Virus (HIV) present an increasingly important patient cohort in areas where both infections are ...
Journal Article
|
Research

Paromomycin and miltefosine combination as an alternative to treat patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa: A randomized, controlled, multicountry trial

Musa AM, Mbui J, Mohammed R, Olobo J, Ritmeijer KKD,  et al.
2022-09-27 • Clinical Infectious Diseases
2022-09-27 • Clinical Infectious Diseases
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine whether paromomycin plus miltefosine (PM/MF) is noninferior to sodium stibogluconate plus paromomycin (SSG/PM) for treatment of primary visce...
Journal Article
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Research

The increasing incidence of visceral leishmaniasis relapse in South Sudan: A retrospective analysis of field patient data from 2001–2018

Naylor-Leyland G, Collin SM, Gatluak F, den Boer ML, Alves F,  et al.
2022-08-18 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2022-08-18 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
BACKGROUND
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in South Sudan, manifesting periodically in major outbreaks. Provision of treatment during endemic periods and as an emergency respo...
Journal Article
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Review

Towards the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in East Africa: reflections on an enhanced control strategy and a call for action

Alvar J, den Boer ML, Dagne DA
2021-12-01 • Lancet Global Health
2021-12-01 • Lancet Global Health
East Africa is the world region most affected by visceral leishmaniasis, accounting for 45% of cases globally that were reported to WHO in 2018, with an annual incidence that is only sli...
Journal Article
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Review

Access to antivenoms in the developing world: a multidisciplinary analysis

Potet J, Beran D, Ray N, Alcoba G, Habib AG,  et al.
2021-10-26 • Toxicon: X
2021-10-26 • Toxicon: X
Access to safe, effective, quality-assured antivenom products that are tailored to endemic venomous snake species is a crucial component of recent coordinated efforts to reduce the globa...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Control of visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa: fragile progress, new threats

Dahl EH, Hamdan M, Mabrouk L, Matendechero S, Mengistie TB,  et al.
2021-08-13 • BMJ Global Health
2021-08-13 • BMJ Global Health
SUMMARY BOX

• Significant progress has been made in reducing the global burden of visceral leishmaniasis, but new threats are on the horizon.
• Funding for elimination of ...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Model of care, Noma Children’s Hospital, northwest Nigeria

Isah S, Amirtharajah M, Farley ES, Adetunji AS, Samuel J,  et al.
2021-06-03 • Tropical Medicine and International Health
2021-06-03 • Tropical Medicine and International Health
The Nigerian Ministry of Health has been offering care for noma patients for many years at the Noma Children's Hospital (NCH) in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, and Médecins Sans Frontières h...
Conference Material
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Poster

Outcomes and effectiveness of antivenom treatments in snakebite patients in north-west Ethiopia: retrospective cohort

Steegemans IM, Sisay K, Nshimiyimana E, Gebrewold G, Piening T,  et al.
2021-05-18 • MSF Scientific Days International 2021: Research
2021-05-18 • MSF Scientific Days International 2021: Research

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Combatting antibiotic resistance 2022

Combatting antibiotic resistance 2022
Resistance to antibiotics is a growing public health crisis, especially in countries with fragile health systems and in regions at war. The World Health Organization has estimated that antibiotic-resistant bacteria caused nearly 1.3 million deaths in 2019, a toll that will increase significantly in the coming years if effective action is not taken. To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 (18-24 November) we present a snapshot of MSF’s recent work on responding to this growing threat. Since many humanitarian settings lack laboratory capacity to diagnose these infections, MSF and partners have developed two new technologies with the potential to dramatically expand the availability of accurate diagnosis—allowing clinicians to then tailor antibiotic treatment accordingly. Other work from diverse contexts describes practices and challenges related to optimizing rational antibiotic use within health facilities and communities. Lastly, several studies characterize the patterns and prevalence of antibiotic resistance among MSF patients, from hospitalized neonates in Central African Republic to acute trauma patients in Haiti and Yemen.
Climate change and health

Climate change and health
The climate crisis is also a health and humanitarian crisis, disproportionately impacting people in the world’s most climate-sensitive regions—mainly low- and low-middle income countries with the least capacity to respond. MSF and other humanitarian organizations witness the consequences daily. More frequent, intense weather events and a warming planet contribute to food and water scarcity, more severe and widespread disease outbreaks, and more injuries and preventable deaths. They also drive massive population displacement, with over 32 million people fleeing their homes in 2022 alone due to floods, drought, storms and fire—nearly triple the number displaced by violence and conflict. As global leaders convene in Dubai for the UN climate conference (COP28, 30 Nov-12 Dec 2023) we present this cross-section of work by MSF and collaborators, drawing from first-hand experience at our medical projects. Emphasizing the urgency of adapting humanitarian operations to the climate crisis, the collection also explores loss and damage through a health lens, proposes policies and practices for creating climate-resilient health organizations, and advocates for embedding fair, just ethics perspectives into humanitarian action and research on climate.
Combatting antimicrobial resistance

Combatting antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health crisis, especially in countries with fragile health systems, population displacement or ongoing conflict. In 2019 antibiotic-resistant bacteria directly caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths, and contributed to 4.95 million deaths, tolls that will continue to increase if no effective action is taken.


MSF’s approach to combatting antimicrobial resistance combines three pillars: infection prevention and control, microbiology and surveillance, and rational use of antibiotics via antibiotic stewardship. Several studies characterize patterns and prevalence of antibiotic resistance among MSF patients, from civilians wounded in Middle East conflicts to hospitalized neonates in Central African Republic and Haiti. New technologies developed by MSF and partners are expanding local capacity for rapid, accurate laboratory diagnosis of infections, so that clinicians can prescribe the right antibiotic for each patient. Other work assesses the practices and challenges related to optimizing rational antibiotic use within health facilities and communities.

If you're interested in learning more about MSF's work in antimicrobial resistance, view the full list of MSF's publications on the topic.

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Neglected tropical diseases in 2023

Neglected tropical diseases in 2023