Disease management, Disability and Inclusion Webinar

Disease management, Disability and Inclusion Webinar: Why people-centred research is needed to beat NTDs

This LCNTDR research webinar explored the epidemiology and burden of the neglected co-morbidities associated with NTDs, and how some groups had begun transitioning from theory to practice by adopting a whole-person approach to NTD control, elimination, eradication, and morbidity management.

2021 was a landmark year for those advocating disability inclusion and person-centred approaches to NTDs. After decades of conceptualising, researching, and raising the profile of this topic, the launch of the WHO road map 2021–2030 marked a paradigm shift in how NTD programmes were being approached and delivered.

In addition to the road map, two key publications supported this shift:

• The guide on good working principles developed by WHO and NNN — Mental Health of People with NTDs: Towards a Person-Centred Approach
• The essential care package — Lymphatic Filariasis: Managing Morbidity and Preventing Disability: An Aide-Memoire for National Programme Managers

These resources helped researchers and implementers put person-centred principles into practice.

The webinar covered the epidemiology and impact of NTD co-morbidities, emphasising the underestimation of NTD burden when mental health conditions were not accounted for. It also examined how programmes in endemic countries were translating theory into practice by adopting people-centred approaches.

Speakers

The research webinar was moderated by Julian Eaton (Centre for Global Mental Health, LSHTM, and Mental Health Director, CBM Global).

Speakers included:

• Professor David Molyneux CMG (Emeritus Professor, LSTM)
• Freddie Bailey (Epidemiology and Information Analyst, Public Health England)
• Dr Paul Tsaku (Research Advisor, The Leprosy Mission Nigeria)
• Dr Laura Dean (LSTM, Research Director, REDRESS)