adminZimbabwe, rabies is still a cause for concern.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare show that 11 people died of rabies in 2012 and a further 17 450 were bitten by dogs the same year.
Sleeping sickness, which is prevalent in areas such as Mbire, is also earmarked for eradication.
Rabies is one of the 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting the world and the African continent in particular.
NTDs are preventable and treatable but affect mostly the poor who live in marginalised communities.
WHO issued its first report on NTDs in 2010 followed by a declaration made in London emphasising on putting back the neglected diseases back on the agenda.
Other NTDs include rabies, bilharzia, sleeping sickness, worms, elephantiasis and leprosy.
Officially launching the second NTD report, WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan urged countries to strengthen their capacities to respond to these diseases.
“The challenge now is to strengthen the capacity of national disease programmes in endemic countries and streamline supply chains to get the drugs to the people who need them when they need them,” Dr Chan said.
She said there had been unprecedented progress against other NTDs owing to a new global strategy emphasising on regular supply of quality assured cost-effective medicines and support from global partners.
It is believed donations of medicines and funding through an alignment of international partners have helped fast tract actions and initiatives that are now having a measurable impact in affected countries.
In Zimbabwe, conditions such as bilharzia and worm diseases got free mass treatment throughout the country
Online Reporter