30 January, 2024
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2024
Unite. Act. Eliminate.
Let's improve the lives of our communities by tackling
neglected tropical diseases in the Americas.
On World NTD Day 2024, PAHO/WHO is calling on everyone, including leaders and communities, to Unite, to Act, and to Eliminate.
NTDs, or neglected infectious diseases, are a diverse group of some 20 conditions that are widespread where people in vulnerability situation live, where water safety, sanitation, and access to health care are inadequate or suboptimal. Caused mostly by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins, NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally and are responsible for thousands of preventable deaths every year.
These diseases are called “neglected” because they have historically ranked very low on the global health agenda, when they have appeared at all, receiving little attention and funding. NTDs cost developing communities the equivalent of billions of dollars every year in direct health costs, loss of productivity and reduced socioeconomic and educational attainment.
Multimedia
