30 January. The world is shining light on NTDs on behalf of the 1.7 billion people threatened by them. Over 64 iconic landmarks and buildings representing 27 nations have been lit up! The time is ripe to #EndTheNeglect! #WorldNTDDay
NTDs and milestones
World NTD Day 2023
2022 – The Abu Dhabi Declaration on the Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease is adopted on 23 March; major pledges are made during the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs, and the Kigali Declaration is launched on 23 June.
2021 – WHO launches the new NTD road map for 2021-2030. In May, the World Health Assembly establishes World NTD Day as a global health day. The Group of Friends on Neglected Tropical Diseases is launched at UN Headquarters on 30 November.
2020 – WHO declares global health emergency following the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Health programmes, including those for NTDs, are severely disrupted by the pandemic. In November, through decision 73(33), the World Health Assembly endorses the new NTD road map and urges Member States to implement it.
2019 – WHO’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group approves draft road map for 2021-2030.
2018 – WHO launches global consultations to develop a new road map for 2021-2030.
2017 – WHO hosts 2nd Global Partners Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases amid unprecedented progress. Pledges of more than US$ 800 million dollars made to accelerate interventions.
2015 – For the first time NTD interventions reach a billion people within a year, of which 991 million through preventive chemotherapy – a trend that continued until 2019.
2013 – WHO’s decision making body – the World Health Assembly – passes Resolution 66.12 calling on countries to accelerate interventions to eliminate NTDs.
2012 – WHO publishes its first NTD road map with 2015 milestones and 2020 targets. Inspired by the road map, partners endorse the London Declaration committing renewed support to eliminating 10 NTDs.
2010 – WHO publishes ground-breaking, first global NTD Report, triggering renewed and additional medicine and in-kind donations.
2008 – WHO publishes its ‘Global Plan to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases 2008 – 2015’.
2007 – WHO hosts the First Global Partners Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases, heralding a close multi-stakeholder collaboration.
2005 – Second Berlin meeting sets scene for a ‘paradigm shift’ - moving away from a traditional disease-centered approach to an integrated one, responding to the specific health needs of marginalized communities. WHO creates the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
2003 – First historic Berlin meeting held. Experts trigger discussions aimed at changing WHO’s approach to tackling tropical diseases.
1975 – WHO establishes and begins hosting the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), which is co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank.