Each year, January 30th brings global focus to the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), as the health community observes World NTD Day. This day signifies key milestones, including the launch of the first World Health Organization (WHO) roadmap for NTDs and the landmark 2012 London Declaration, both of which marked pivotal shifts toward tackling diseases impacting the world’s most vulnerable populations.
This year's theme, "Unite, Act, and Eliminate NTDs," serves as both a rallying cry and call to action for stakeholders across the globe. Inspired by President Embaló of Guinea-Bissau's reflections published by Health Policy Watch, the theme highlights the pressing need for sustainable financing and global collaboration to effectively deal with these health challenges.
What exactly are Neglected Tropical Diseases? NTDs encompass 20 debilitating diseases afflicting roughly 1.7 billion individuals, primarily those living in poverty-stricken areas across tropical and subtropical regions. Well-known diseases such as Chagas disease, dengue, leprosy, and schistosomiasis typically languish under limited funding and attention, even as their impact on efficiency, health, and education remains overwhelming.
Despite these challenges, there’s been significant progress. According to reports, 50 countries have eliminated at least one NTD as of 2023, illustrating what organized, sustained efforts can achieve. Between 2010 and 2020, there was also the remarkable decrease of 600 million people requiring interventions against NTDs, which can be attributed to effective international cooperation and targeted strategies.
Nevertheless, the pandemic has disrupted these achievements. With healthcare systems pivoting focus to COVID-19, many NTD initiatives were either delayed or halted, exposing the fragility of health infrastructure dedicated to NTDs. The need for resilient health systems has become more pronounced, emphasizing the urgency of sustainable financing to prevent the rollback of hard-earned progress.
This year, the theme "Unite. Act. Eliminate" lays out three strategic pillars fundamental to countering NTDs successfully:
- Unite: Collaborate with governments, organizations, and communities to reach common objectives.
- Act: Identify and implement strategic approaches to combat NTDs effectively.
- Eliminate: Take stock of advancements made so far and intensify measures to eradicate these diseases.
Sustainable financing sits at the heart of this year’s theme. The previously mentioned piece by Embaló emphasizes how investing resources for NTD initiatives is pivotal to achieve victories not just for health, but also for development. Unfortunately, inadequate funding has long impeded control and elimination efforts, and the complications accompanying the pandemic have rendered securing long-term financing more urgent than ever.
The Chagas Global Coalition offers another engaging initiative during World NTD Day. Through their ChagatChat platform—established to create dialogue within the Chagas disease community—they draw attention to the reality of Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects millions across Latin America. By galvanizing discussion and collaboration, the coalition enhances awareness around NTDs and strengthens advocacy for sufficient resources.
On the ground, the Union health ministry in India marked the occasion by illuminating India Gate, shining light on the nation's achievements against NTDs, especially focussing on Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). This symbolic gesture reflects the commitment and urgency needed to tackle these public health challenges.
Aiming for full NTD elimination, the WHO roadmap sets ambitious targets calling for united action from governments, civil society, and the private sector. The message behind the "Unite, Act, Eliminate" theme serves as a strong reminder of the urgency to sustain momentum and collaborative efforts toward achieving these public health goals.
Adapting to the post-pandemic situation will be key. To reinforce NTD programs disrupted during the pandemic, international stakeholders must prioritize restoring services, confronting treatment backlogs, and maintaining attention on NTDs as integral to global health agendas. Learning from setbacks during the pandemic will drive the development of more resilient health systems capable of preventing future crises.
Innovation and research remain cornerstones of the fight against NTDs. Developing new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines, as well as enhancing existing strategies, will expedite the drive toward elimination and provide assurance for millions who remain at risk.
World NTD Day is not just about awareness—it's about action, collaboration, and commitment to eradicate some of the world's most debilitating diseases. By coming together, stakeholders can reignite efforts and push the boundaries of what can be achieved globally and locally, ensuring no one is left behind.