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World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) is a global awareness day held every year on 30 January since 2020.

Women giving child a spoon with medicine

NTDs are widespread in the world’s poorest regions, where water safety, sanitation and access to health care is poor. NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally and are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.

These diseases are “neglected” because they are almost absent from the global health agenda, receive little funding and are associated with stigma and social exclusion. They are diseases of neglected populations and perpetuate a cycle of poor educational outcomes and limited professional opportunities.

This year, World NTD Day calls on governments, the private sector, and civil society to invest in NTD control and elimination efforts under the banner “Act Now. Act Together.”

For more information on World NTD Day and related events, please click here.

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