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

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.