World NTD Day

Annually on January 30th the global health and development community acknowledges World Neglected Tropical Disease Day

About

On January 30, 2020, the global community came together for the first time to recognize World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day. The Day was made possible with support from the Crown Prince Court, and met with overwhelming response with 350 partners signing on to #EndtheNeglect and #BeatNTDs. In May 2021, the World Health Assembly adopted a decision to officially recognize World NTD Day. USAID annually participates in this important day.

USAID’s Commitment

The U.S. Government was one of the first governments to publicly support this important awareness day. Historically, the American people have invested hundreds of millions of dollars —making the United States one of the most prolific donors in the fight to end NTDs.

World NTD Day “acknowledges progress and partnership helping to end NTDs. The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $1 billion to eliminate NTDs since 2006, contributing to tremendous progress against these diseases” – Former USAID Acting Administrator

World NTD Day is an important opportunity for USAID and its partners to reflect on the progress made to lift lives and improve health. See the results of this investment to date.

USAID’s Work

USAID works with countries to help end five of the most common and most burdensome NTDs: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), trachoma, river blindness, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worms.

NTDs can blind, disable, and disfigure people. When these diseases persist, families, communities, and economies suffer. NTDs can hurt a person’s chances of staying in school, earning a living, or even being accepted by family and community—because of stigma.

USAID has worked alongside more than 30 countries to control and eliminate NTDs. Through administering safe, effective medicines —donated by generous pharmaceutical partners— nearly half a billion people live in areas where they are no longer at risk for these five NTDs.

By supporting sustainable, country-led NTD response programs and investing in operational research and diagnostics improvements, USAID is reinforcing national governance of NTD programs and helping remove barriers to NTD disease goals.