Efforts are being stepped up by the UN to eliminate what it has called “neglected” tropical diseases in South-East Asia.

Diseases such as kala azar, leprosy, yaws, lymphatic filariasis and schistosomiasis continue to disable, disfigure and kill people in some of the poorest countries in the region.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been meeting in the Timorese city of Dili with health ministry officials from 11 countries to look at ways of eradicating the illnesses.

Daniel Dickinson has been speaking to the agency’s Director of Communicable Diseases in the region, Swarup Sarkar.

Duration: 2’14”