World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2024

January 29, 2024

Every year on 30 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) raises awareness of Neglected tropical diseases (NTD) as part of World NTD Day.

What are neglected tropical diseases?

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infectious diseases that are caused by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins and lead to an impaired health status or death if not treated. These diseases are mostly found in very poor communities living in tropical areas, and their etiology is often associated with specific environmental factors. While some NTDs can be eradicated, meaning that their incidence is reduced to zero permanently, those with animal or insect vectors can only be eliminated, meaning that human transmission is stopped locally, and then controlled to limit outbreaks.

Some of these diseases have hit the headlines in the past year, including dengue, which is spreading to new areas including Europe, and sleeping sickness or human African trypanosomiasis, for which the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicine Agency (EMA) recently gave a positive opinion for fexinidazole as an oral treatment for the most neglected and severe form of this disease (Rhodesiense trypanosomiasis).

Specialized in clinical and regulatory writing, Synergy Pharm is proud to have participated in the submission of the fexinidazole application to the EMA. Click here for more information.

What is the theme for the 2024 WHO campaign for NTDs?

This year the theme for the World NTD Day is Unite. Act. Eliminate.

It is estimated that >1 billion people are affected by NTDs and that 1.6 billion require prevention and curative NTD interventions.

The WHO has issued 6 key messages for this campaign: Fighting NTDs requires universal health coverage (1) and the adaptation of public health strategies to climate change (2). The halfway milestone for 2030 has been reached as 50 countries have eliminated at least one NTD (3). Fighting NTDs is a key component of global health security (4) and all health services must be maintained during a health crisis (5). Preserving the health of the most vulnerable is essential to reach equity in global health (6).