Towards Sustainable Impact: Future Directions in Social Work for NTD Control and Elimination

Social work profession can work alongside other public health disciplines for the effective control and prevention of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). However, despite its strengths in addressing NTDs, particularly the social dimension of NTDs, social work has not gained the status of an essential discipline in NTD programmes. This chapter examines the challenges in establishing NTD social work as an essential discipline in NTD programmes. The readers are also introduced to the future directions in establishing NTD social work as a relevant public health discipline by laying down the theories that shall guide the shaping of NTD social work practice. By addressing these challenges, NTD social work can position itself as a significant public health discipline in the control and elimination of NTDs.