Neglected tropical diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: impact and guidance

This course is intended for decision-makers and programme managers who want to learn more about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its 5 modules introduce NTDs, outline the impact of COVID-19 on NTD programmes and WHO’s response to mitigate its consequences, and finally present WHO’s recommendations on maintenance of essential health services for NTDs as well as guidance on adaptation and safe resumption of community-based NTD activities during the pandemic.

Photo credit: IPSI/Giovanni Carbone

Course information

This course is also available in the following languages:

Français - Español - Português - العربية

NTDs are a heterogeneous collection of 20 communicable and non-communicable diseases and disease groups that are associated with poverty, mainly affecting people in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Over 1.7 billion people worldwide are estimated to require at least one NTD intervention every year. This course focuses on NTDs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a general introduction to the diseases, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on NTD programmes, and focuses on the adaptations needed to safely and effectively fight NTDs, in light of the disruption to health services caused by the pandemic. It targets decision-makers and programme managers at the national and subnational levels.

Learning objectives: By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

• describe the main characteristics and disease burden of NTDs;
• list prevention and control measures for NTDs, within the framework of the 5 strategies recommended by WHO;
• discuss the impact of COVID-19 on NTD programmes and on transmission of NTDs, as well as WHO’s response;
• understand how to maintain essential health services in the COVID-19 pandemic context;
• understand how to adapt facility-based and community-based health care; and
• understand how to resume mass treatment, active case-finding and population-based surveys for neglected tropical diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Course duration: Approximately 1 hour.

Certificates: A Record of Achievement certificate will be available to participants who score at least 80% in the final assessment. Participants who receive a Record of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.

Course contents

• Module 1: Introduction and overview of the course:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) activities; and explain how NTD activities can be adapted to ensure safe implementation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Module 2: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NTD programmes and activities:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs); and describe WHO’s response to NTDs in the context of COVID-19.

• Module 3: WHO general guidance on implementation of NTD interventions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and WHO Guidance for community-based interventions:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe general guidance for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; and describe recommendations for community-based interventions for NTDs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Module 4: WHO guidance on the resumption of community-based interventions:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: explain the decision-making process for the resumption of NTD community-based interventions; describe the criteria and considerations for the risk-benefit assessment that should be conducted to decide if the planned NTD activity should resume or commence; and describe precautionary measures that can be applied to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission associated with the planned NTD activity.

• Module 5 : WHO guidance for maintenance of essential health services:

  By the end of this module, you should be able to: describe the principles of maintaining essential NTD health services; and explain how NTD programme activities can be modified for the safe delivery of services.