Sightsavers partnership aims to research the impact of climate change on NTDs

Sightsavers has teamed up with the Walker Institute to explore how climate change will affect the spread of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

More than a billion people are affected by NTDs around the world, and there is evidence that a global rise in temperatures, coupled with changing weather patterns, could alter how these diseases are spread.

The Walker Institute, based at the University of Reading, supports the development of climate-resilient societies. It uses research to help solve issues faced by low-income countries, such as migration, food and water security, risks to livelihoods, and biodiversity loss.

During the study, researchers will engage with local communities and academics to explore different climate change scenarios and the implications these will have for factors affecting disease, such as changing rainfall patterns, the displacement of people and animals, and changes to NTD-spreading insect populations. The study aims to provide a way to predict the areas that will be worst affected by NTDs as the climate changes.

Researchers also want to work with governments in NTD-affected countries to combine climate and health data, so it can be used to improve forecasting and drive decision-making. They are looking for additional technical and funding partners to support the initiative.

Walker Institute director Professor Rosalind Cornforth said: “This partnership with Sightsavers will improve our understanding of the links between various NTDs and climate, with regards to population displacement, human infection and entomological changes.

“NTDs disproportionately affect some of the most vulnerable people in the world and this is likely to be exacerbated by the climate emergency. We aim to improve regional and local climate change modelling to enable more reliable predictions of health impacts and allow better planning and decision-making for the people who are at most risk.”

Sightsavers technical director for NTDs Philip Downs said: “To treat, prevent and ultimately eliminate these diseases, we need different sectors to come together and play their part.

“By working with governments and the Walker Institute, we hope we can better understand how climate influences the spread of disease. This means that the communities who are affected by these diseases will be better prepared to mitigate the risks and continue to work towards NTD elimination.”