By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), Feb. 1, GNA – The world on every January 30 marks World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, a global observance aimed at drawing attention to a group of preventable and treatable diseases that continue to affect some of the most vulnerable populations.
Neglected tropical diseases still impact more than one billion people worldwide, particularly in underserved and low-income communities where access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education remains limited.
Conditions such as river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and trachoma not only pose serious health risks but also undermine education, productivity, and broader socio-economic development.
Despite these challenges, notable progress has been made.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of people requiring NTD interventions declined to about 1.4 billion in 2024, representing a 36 per cent reduction since 2010.
This progress has been attributed to coordinated global action, mass drug administration campaigns, improved disease surveillance, and strengthened national health systems.
By early 2026, at least 58 countries had eliminated one or more NTDs, bringing the world closer to the WHO’s target of 100 countries achieving elimination by 2030.
These achievements underscore that the global goal of ending NTDs is both realistic and within reach.
However, health experts caution that these gains remain fragile.
Funding constraints and declining international support threaten to reverse years of hard-won progress, even though NTD programmes are among the most cost-effective investments in public health.
Studies indicate that every one dollar invested in NTD prevention and treatment can yield up to 25 dollars in economic benefits, including increased productivity, reduced healthcare costs, and stronger, more resilient communities.
On World NTD Day, governments, development partners, and civil society organisations are being urged to renew their commitment by supporting country-led solutions, protecting and increasing funding for NTD prevention, treatment, and research, and championing innovation and partnerships across sectors.
Together, sustained global solidarity and investment can help eliminate neglected tropical diseases, one of the most achievable, equitable, and transformative goals in global health, and secure a healthier and more productive future for millions of people around the world.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade