New UK support pledged to fight neglected tropical diseases

The UK has announced a doubling of its support measures to fight neglected tropical diseases over the next five years.

More than 200 million people are set to benefit from this new pledge, with one billion treatments to be provided to people at risk in the developing world as part of an international push to eradicate tropical disease.

The UK's support measures are designed specifically to wipe out Guinea worm, which is transmitted through dirty water, as well as eliminating visceral leishmaniasis – a parasitic disease caused by infected sand-flies – across Asia.

It is also hoped that up to 400,000 cases of blindness caused by trachoma can be prevented, in addition to tens of thousands of cases of disability caused by the mosquito-transmitted disease lymphatic filariasis.

In total, 360 million pounds will be spent on implementation programmes to tackle neglected tropical diseases between 2017-2018 and 2021-22.

International development secretary Priti Patel said: "The UK's support will protect over 200 million people from a future blighted by tropical disease and represents a huge leap towards ending this scourge."

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