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Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)
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10 Facts on neglected tropical diseases
Q&A on
Neglected Tropical Diseases
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© WHO/NTD
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Neglected Tropical Diseases
01 January 2008 — Today, neglected tropical diseases are a symptom of poverty and disadvantage. Those most affected are the poorest populations often living in remote, rural areas, urban slums or in conflict zones. With little political voice, neglected tropical diseases have a low profile and status in public health priorities. Lack of reliable statistics and unpronounceable names of diseases have all hampered efforts to bring them out of the shadows.
Although medically diverse, neglected tropical diseases share features that allow them to persist in conditions of poverty, where they cluster and frequently overlap. Over 1 billion people – one sixth of the world's population – suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases. Conflict situations or natural disasters aggravate conditions that are conducive to the spread of these diseases.
Letter from the Director
2007: A turning point
The neglected tropical diseases express this link between health and development in an explicit, almost visual way – a way that is more compelling than statistics alone.
The view of the WHO's DG
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Global Partners' Meeting
Neglected tropical diseases action field
Last update: 24 December 2008
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