决策者 | 通过集体行动根除非洲被忽视的热带病

Editor's note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on events shaping today's world. Sika Kabore is former First Lady of Burkina Faso and Head of the KIMI Foundation; and Isatou Touray is former Vice President of the Republic of the Gambia. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

编者按：决策者是一个全球平台，供决策者分享他们对影响当今世界之事件的见解。西卡·卡博雷是布基纳法索前第一夫人；伊莎图·图雷是冈比亚共和国前副总统。文章仅代表作者的观点，并不代表本台观点。

Across the African continent, a global health revolution is underway. For the past two decades, nations like Burkina Faso and The Gambia have been making historic progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). To date, 21 countries in Africa have eliminated at least one NTD, with several countries such as Togo, Benin, and Malawi having eliminated two, three or four NTDs. Their success stories are not just regional triumphs; they are powerful testaments to the potential of collective action against diseases that have plagued humanity for centuries.

非洲大陆正在进行一场全球性的公共卫生革命。过去二十年间，诸如布基纳法索和冈比亚等国家，在与被忽视的热带疾病（NTD）的斗争中取得了历史性成就。迄今为止，已有21个非洲国家成功根除至少一种NTD，而多哥、贝宁、马拉维等国则根除了两至四种NTD。这不仅是地区性的胜利，更是集体行动力量的生动体现，表明人类拥有共同对抗长期困扰全球疾病的能力。

Yet, amid the celebration of these achievements, a stark reality looms large. The progress we've made against NTDs is precariously balanced on the edge of a shifting global landscape. Global conflicts, economic instability, and climate change threaten to undo the gains we've worked so hard to achieve. As the world grapples with these challenges, the need for increased funding and renewed political commitment has never been more critical. 

然而，在庆祝这些成就之时，我们也面临一个严酷的现实。全球复杂多变的形势给我们在消除NTD方面的进展带来风险。地区冲突、经济不稳定和气候变化或使我们艰难取得的成果化为泡影。在应对这些全球性挑战时，增加资金支持与重申政治承诺变得非常迫切。

The upcoming 2023 Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) Forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on December 3, will serve as a pivotal platform for the global community to further galvanize partnerships and resources towards eliminating these diseases.   

2023年12月3日在《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十八次缔约方大会期间将举行“到达最后一英里”论坛，该论坛在阿联酋总统穆罕默德·本·扎耶德·阿勒纳哈扬的支持下，与盖茨基金会合作举办。这一活动将成为国际社会进一步加强伙伴关系、调动资源以共同消除这些疾病的重要平台。

Progress in Burkina Faso and The Gambia

布基纳法索与冈比亚：抗击NTD进展显著

NTDs are a group of 20 infectious diseases that can debilitate, disfigure, and be fatal. The burden of NTDs is immense, affecting around 1.65 billion people worldwide and causing substantial economic losses in affected regions due to healthcare costs and decreased productivity.

被忽视的热带病涵盖了二十种致残、致畸甚至致命的传染性疾病。这些疾病影响广泛，全球约有16.5亿人受其困扰，这些患者所在区域也因生产力下降和医疗成本等原因遭受巨大的经济损失。

Burkina Faso and The Gambia stand as powerful examples of the transformative impact achievable through a comprehensive approach to combating NTDs. Burkina Faso, affected by 12 NTDs including sleeping sickness and river blindness, achieved an extraordinary reduction in NTD risk from 19.2 million people in 2012 to 3.7 million in 2021, marking an impressive 81 percent decrease. The country's relentless efforts led to the elimination of Guinea worm disease in 2011 and a significant decrease in the prevalence of intestinal worms (soil-transmitted helminths) to less than 2 percent. Burkina Faso also consistently scored above 88 in the NTD Coverage Index between 2016 and 2020, according to the WHO Global Health Observatory 2023, showcasing their dedicated efforts.

布基纳法索和冈比亚通过采取综合方法来抗击NTD带来变革性的影响，成为抗击NTD的典范。布基纳法索曾受12种NTD的影响，其中包括睡眠病和河盲症。自2012年起，该国在降低NTD风险方面取得了显著成果，患者人数从1920万减少至2021年的370万，降幅达81%。该国不仅在2011年消灭了几内亚的蠕虫病，还将肠道寄生虫病（土传蠕虫病）的发病率大幅降低至不足2%。根据世界卫生组织2023年全球健康观察数据，布基纳法索在2016至2020年间的NTD覆盖指数均高于88，这是该国在抗击NTD方面坚持不懈努力的成果。

A female doctor takes care of a patient in hospital. /CFP

Meanwhile, The Gambia, facing challenges such as intestinal worms and Bilharzia (schistosomiasis), reduced its at-risk population from 1.2 million in 2012 to 500 thousand in 2021, a substantial 60 percent reduction. The nation also successfully eliminated trachoma in 2021, a significant victory in the battle against preventable blindness. Furthermore, proactive measures were taken to combat Bilharzia and soil-transmitted helminthiases, with rounds of mass drug administration carried out between 2016 and 2021.

面对包括肠道蠕虫病和血吸虫病（裂体吸虫病）等在内的挑战，冈比亚将风险人口数量从2012年的120万减少到2021年的50万，降幅达60%。2021年，冈比亚成功消除了颗粒性结膜炎，这是在可预防性失明领域的重大胜利。此外，该国在2016至2021年间积极采取措施，通过多轮大规模药物治疗，有效抗击了血吸虫病和土传蠕虫病。

Burkina Faso and The Gambia's achievements are also part of a larger groundswell of progress happening across the African continent, which is further demonstrated by establishment of the Common African Position and the Continental Framework. These two initiatives are pivotal commitments for African countries, reflecting the highest expression of intent to eliminate NTDs within the continent.

布基纳法索和冈比亚的成就也是整个非洲大陆进步浪潮的一部分，《非洲共同立场》和《大陆框架》的建立彰显了非洲国家消除NTD的坚定决心。

The Continental Framework outlines a bold vision to liberate Africa from all NTDs by 2030. It integrates strategies, emphasizing crucial aspects like creating dedicated budgets and increasing allocations to health. The Common African Position, endorsed by Heads of State, recommends priorities for African states, with regional economic communities as vital anchors. Africa's collective leadership in developing these frameworks and endorsing them at the highest political level demonstrates a unified front against NTDs.

《大陆框架》勾勒出了一个雄心勃勃的愿景——到2030年让非洲摆脱所有NTD的困扰。该框架包含多项策略，强调建立专项预算和增加卫生投资的重要性。《非洲共同立场》得到了各国元首的认可，以区域经济共同体为核心支柱，为非洲各国设定了优先事项。非洲在制定这些框架及该框架在最高政治层面上获得一致认可体现了一种集体领导力，即共同构建统一战线，坚定抗击NTD。

A testament to the feasibility of eliminating NTDs across Africa

非洲消灭NTD的可行之路

The successes of both nations underscore the importance of disease surveillance, mass drug administration, robust national plans, and infrastructure development, highlighting the transformative potential of an integrated approach in funding and addressing NTDs.

布基纳法索和冈比亚的成功经验不仅凸显了疾病监测、大规模药物治疗、健全的国家规划和基础设施建设等的重要性，也表明了资金支持与抗击NTD方面综合施策的变革性潜力。

What’s more, the remarkable progress of African nations in combating NTDs serves as a powerful testament to the feasibility of eliminating these debilitating diseases. With the right strategies, political will and resources, the elimination of NTDs is not just a distant dream but an achievable reality, fostering a safer, healthier, and more equitable future. 

更为关键的是，非洲国家在抗击NTD方面取得的卓越成就表明了消灭这些致残性疾病不仅是可能的，更是可行的。凭借正确的策略、坚定的政治意志和充足的资源，消灭NTD并非遥不可及的梦想，而是触手可及的现实，能够构建一个更安全、更健康、更平等的未来。

The elimination of NTDs is an essential global goal that holds immense significance for public health and societal well-being. By eliminating NTDs, we will not only improve the health and quality of life for millions of people around the world but also break the cycle of poverty, allowing affected individuals and communities to thrive. 

消除NTD是一个至关重要的全球性目标，对于提升公共卫生水平和社会福祉具有重要意义。消除NTD不仅能够提高全球数百万人的健康水平和生活质量，还能打破贫困的恶性循环，让受影响的个人和社区走向繁荣。

Additionally, by investing in NTD elimination programs, countries are boosting progress towards achieving universal health coverage, strengthening their health systems, and enhancing their ability to prepare for and respond to other diseases and new health emergencies. Moreover, the eventual elimination of these diseases will free up substantial resources, both financial and human, allowing countries to reallocate funds to other important priorities. 

此外，投资消除NTD项目将有利于推动各国实现全民健康覆盖的目标，加强卫生系统建设，提升应对其他疾病和新型卫生紧急情况的能力。更为重要的是，这些疾病的消除将释放大量财政和人力资源，为各国其他重点领域的发展提供支持。

The incidence of dengue and chikungunya has increased dramatically. These diseases that were negligible in our region a decade ago now pose a serious threat to the prosperity of our countries, and the fight against poverty, and jeopardize progress achieved to date. 

登革热和基孔肯亚热的发病率急剧上升。十年前，这些疾病在非洲地区几乎可以忽略不计，而如今却对国家繁荣和减贫行动构成威胁，甚至危及到目前为止所取得的进展。

The NTD moment at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum

“到达最后一英里”论坛上的NTD时刻

In this pivotal moment, the upcoming 2023 Reaching the Last Mile Forum emerges as a watershed moment in the fight against NTDs. Continuing in the spirit of collective action demonstrated at the Kigali Summit in 2022, the Reaching the Last Mile Forum will provide a global platform, not just for dialogue but for tangible commitments – and a rallying cry to renew our efforts and secure the path toward eliminating all NTDs. At the Forum’s NTD moment, nations, donors, and partners will stand shoulder to shoulder, reaffirming their critical support to end these diseases.   

在这个关键时刻，即将举行的2023年“到达最后一英里”论坛将成为抗击NTD历程中的一座重要里程碑。本届论坛延续2022年基加利峰会上展现的集体行动精神，将为各国进行对话及做出具体承诺提供一个全球性平台，吹响集结号，激励各国重燃斗志，坚定根除所有NTD的目标。在论坛上的NTD时刻，各国代表、捐助者和合作伙伴将肩并肩站在一起，重申他们坚定支持消除这些疾病的决心。

The successes of countries like Burkina Faso and The Gambia, among others, remind us that the potential for collective action knows no bounds. However, this moment demands more than celebration; it demands action. It is an opportunity to ensure sustained progress and lay the foundation for a more just and equitable world. 

布基纳法索和冈比亚等国的成功经验向我们证明了集体行动的无限潜力。但此时，我们需要的不仅仅是庆祝，更需要实际行动。各国应抓住这次机遇，推动持续进步，为构建更加公正平等的世界奠定基础。

As we stand at the brink of a future free from the burden of NTDs, let this moment be a testament to our shared responsibility, uniting us across boundaries and inspiring unwavering commitment. Together, let us make history by reaching the last mile and ensuring a healthier, brighter future for all.

当前，我们距离一个没有NTD的未来仅一步之遥，此时此刻，各国应肩负起共同的责任，跨越国界，团结一致，做出坚定承诺。让我们共同携手，创造历史，走完最后一英里，为所有人创造一个更加健康、光明的未来。

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