Leprosy Mailing List – January 28, 2026
Ref.: (LML) World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
From: Pieter Schreuder, Maastricht,, the Netherlands
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Dear colleagues,
Dr. Francesa Gajete (Manilla, the Philippines) pointed out to me that World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed every year on 30 January. This year coming Friday.
From the WHO NTD website I copied the following text:
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions that still affect one billion people worldwide, primarily in vulnerable and underserved communities. Yet they are preventable, treatable, and can be eliminated. In 2024, around 1.4 billion people required interventions against neglected tropical diseases, a 36% decrease from 2010. As of early 2026, 58 countries have successfully eliminated at least one NTD—demonstrating significant progress toward the WHO's global target of 100 countries reaching elimination by 2030.
However, this hard-won progress is now at risk. Deep cuts in official development assistance for global health, particularly for NTD programs, threaten to stall or reverse gains and negatively impact the lives of affected communities.
Proven, low-cost tools exist, such as preventive chemotherapy—which delivers an estimated $25 in economic benefits for every $1 invested—yet NTDs remain among the most underfunded areas in global health.
On World NTD Day 2026, we must answer the call to unite, act, and eliminate NTDs, building a safer and more resilient world for everyone. We urge countries to invest in better tools, systems, approaches, and partnerships so that domestically owned and financed NTD programmes are sustainable. We call on partners to continue to honor commitments, protect hard-earned gains, unlock innovative financing, and implement new approaches.
Let us celebrate country-led successes, champion innovation in diagnostics and treatment, and secure the leadership and resources needed to ensure NTD elimination remains one of the most achievable and equitable goals in global health.
WHO plays a central role in this global effort—setting norms and strategies, coordinating partners to monitor global progress, supporting Member States in overcoming technical and programmatic challenges, and guiding the collective effort to achieve the 2030 control, elimination and eradication targets.
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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder
LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/
Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << edit...@gmail.com
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