NTDs in the context of COVID-19 - WHO online course

12 Jan 2021

Open WHO is the World Health Organisation short online courses platform, free of cost and open to anyone from any corner of the world. 

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.

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.

Neglected tropical diseases in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO