Cairo, Egypt, 29 January 2025 – On the occasion of World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments, leaders, communities and individuals to unite, act and eliminate NTDs through bold, sustainable investments. This call is especially important for the estimated 1.5 billion people living in the world’s most vulnerable communities, who are trapped in a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
World NTDs Day, observed annually on 30 January, serves as a global reminder of the importance of NTDs and their devastating impact on health and development. The theme for 2025 – “Unite. Act. Eliminate.” – emphasizes the collective commitment needed to end these diseases. WHO is calling for increased country commitment, resources, technical guidance, solidarity and coordination to eliminate NTDs by delivering treatment, reducing transmission, managing disability and combating stigma.
NTDs: A global challenge
NTDs are a diverse group of more than 21 conditions, including parasitic, bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. These diseases are prevalent in the world’s poorest regions, where access to clean water, sanitation and health care services is often inadequate. NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally and are responsible for thousands of preventable deaths every year.
In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, NTDs affect millions of people annually, with a significant toll on public health. An estimated 75 million people require interventions against NTDs in the Region, which affect the most vulnerable communities. For example, outbreaks of NTDs have been reported among displaced populations.
Skin-related NTDs have a particular burden in the Region and can often lead to psychological problems, stigma, exclusion and even disabilities, if left untreated. The Region has the highest global burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Progress and challenges
However, progress is being made in tackling these diseases, with several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region taking proactive steps to combat them. For instance:
10 countries in the Region had eliminated at least one NTD by 2024.
Between 2010 and 2022, the number of people requiring interventions against NTDs in the Region decreased by 54%.
As of December 2024, 54 countries worldwide had successfully eliminated at least one NTD. In 2024 alone, 7 countries achieved the elimination of an NTD. WHO’s goal is to see 100 countries eliminate at least one NTD by 2030.
In 2023, over 860 million people received treatment for NTDs through mass drug administration and individual disease management efforts. However, despite the availability of effective treatments for many NTDs, gaps persist and these treatments often fail to reach the populations that need them the most.
The WHO roadmap for NTDs 2021–2030 and the 2022 Kigali Declaration on NTDs have set clear programmatic targets for the control, elimination and eradication of NTDs. World NTDs Day is an important moment to highlight these goals and the challenges that remain in reaching them.
Key challenges in the fight against NTDs
But while there has been significant progress in the fight against NTDs, global NTD programmes continue to face several challenges:
Funding gaps and changing financial landscapes.
Inconsistent country ownership and political commitment.
Dwindling capacities and expertise in some regions.
Uneven progress across different NTDs and countries.
Data gaps and difficulties in generating accurate disease burden statistics.
Migrations and conflicts that disrupt access to health care.
Climate change, which is emerging as a major threat, particularly for vector-borne diseases.
A call for collective action
WHO is calling for continued and enhanced collaboration across sectors to ensure that NTDs are prioritized on national and global health agendas. World NTDs Day is not only a time to reflect on the progress made but also to renew the global commitment to eliminating these diseases and breaking the cycle of poverty and ill-health that they perpetuate.
On World NTDs Day 2025, WHO encourages everyone to join the global NTD community and contribute to the achievement of the collective goal to eliminate NTDs. By uniting, acting and eliminating these diseases, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of billions of people worldwide.
About WHO and NTDs
WHO is at the forefront of global efforts to control and eliminate NTDs. The Organization works with governments, partners and communities to implement integrated strategies for NTD prevention, control and elimination.
