By Anupama Tantri and Anna Johnston 

Promoting inclusive growth and curbing rising inequality are now central themes in development discussions.  Despite Asia’s impressive economic growth in the past decade, there is increasing agreement that a strong economy alone is not sufficient to address inequality. Social protection policies and programs can help translate economic growth into development and address inequalities by ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalized communities have access to opportunities for health, education, and prosperity.

A look at Asia’s progress in achieving the MDGs offers more insight on the gap between economic growth and development, and the inequalities in health that persist across the region.  Collectively, countries in Asia have met the target of reducing extreme poverty by half; however, communities are still grappling with hunger, the other target for MDG 1.  Most countries in Asia are also lagging behind on MDG 4 and 5 aimed at reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.  Inequalities in access to food and basic health services contribute to the weak progress in achieving these targets.

Promoting human development

In 2012, World Bank President Jim Kim underscored the importance of combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) to help reduce poverty and inequality among the world’s most marginalized communities.  Asia accounts for more than two-thirds of the world’s population at risk for lymphatic filariasis, and approximately half of the world’s children at risk for intestinal worms.

NTDs cause disabilities, undernutrition, and anemia, which contribute to delayed cognitive and physical development in children and poor pregnancy outcomes.  NTDs also reinforce poor educational outcomes and weak economic development, resulting in billions of dollars in lost wages and decreased economic productivity. People suffering from NTDs are often stigmatized and isolated, further diminishing human and social capital, mental health and well-being.

NTD control is considered a “best buy” in global health, particularly because the drugs to fight NTDs are donated by pharmaceutical companies.  The interventions are simple, cost-effective, and help strengthen core public health functions. NTD programs create opportunities to work across sectors to improve water, sanitation, and food safety, and can be easily integrated into other health and social development projects aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.  Countries that eliminate and control NTDs demonstrate that they can effectively reach their most vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly women and children.

Building on a successful model and looking ahead

One successful example of linking NTD control with social protection programs comes from the Philippines. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a conditional cash transfer program launched in 2008 by the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development with support from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Australian Agency for International Development.  The program provides families with cash assistance tied to conditions, including regular deworming, that promote the health and education of their children. Within five years of its launch, the program has become the cornerstone of the country’s social protection efforts.

A rigorous evaluation of Pantawid Pamilya has found that the program is helping to improve access to and demand for basic maternal and child health services, including treatment for NTDs.  Children in program areas were more likely to receive essential services such as growth monitoring, deworming, and vitamin A. Learn more about it from this video.

Pantawid Pamilya demonstrates the impact of a well-designed, comprehensive social protection program that contributes to human and economic development.  Development agencies have a unique opportunity to inform the post-2015 development agenda and improve their efforts to promote economic growth and development by seeking more opportunities to link NTDs with social protection and poverty reduction programs.