World NTD Day: Why we remain 100% committed to ending NTDs

World NTD Day: Why we remain 100% committed to ending NTDs

Today, January 30th, is World NTD Day. Despite global progress, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)[i] continue to thrive in the most marginalized communities, affecting the lives and livelihoods of over 1.7 billion people – one in five people worldwide. We are committed to raising awareness of these preventable diseases and advocating for increased investment in NTD priorities.

World Vision works with National NTD Programs and Ministries of Health to strengthen collaboration with other sectors and health programs – such as WASH, agriculture, maternal and child health, education, and social protection – in order to mutualize resources and leverage the technical expertise of each sector to accelerate progress against NTDs.[ii] We support country-owned, sustainable interventions that meet the needs of communities and help children and their families achieve their full potential. Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness.

Act Now. Act Together. Invest in NTDs.

In recognition of World NTD Day, our World Vision colleagues from Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Senegal shared their reflections on this year’s theme and why they are committed to the fight against NTDs.

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Act now: The progress made in the fight against NTDs is the result of years of effort, and we must sustain the gains to avoid resurgence in the diseases. Act together: Multisectoral and cross-sectoral strategies reduce the costs associated with the control of NTDs. Invest in NTDs: Investing in NTDs means protecting more than a billion people around the world.

– Bougou Coulibaly, Technical Specialist for NTDs, World Vision Mali


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“Progress in NTD programming requires collective and urgent actions towards the 2030 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Supporting efforts towards mainstreaming NTD services within national health and social systems will culminate in sustained investments, providing a gateway to universal health coverage for vulnerable persons affected by NTDs in Ghana and globally. Strategically, a win for NTDs is a win for all 17 SDGs.”

– Wunpini Sayibu, Cross-Sector Coordination Manager, World Vision Ghana


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“By 2030, it is more than urgent to intensify the fight against NTDs by involving not only all levels of society (communities; traditional, religious, and administrative authorities; municipalities) but also all sectors (water, sanitation, environment, community development, communication, livestock, agriculture, health, education, women’s empowerment, child protection). This will not only strengthen political commitment but also mobilize domestic resources and thus guarantee the sustainability of the fight against NTDs.”

– Zeinabou Mahamane, Cross-Sector Coordination Manager, World Vision Niger


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“Act now, because it is time for NTDs (neglected tropical diseases) to become CTDs (considered tropical diseases) and be properly managed. Act together, to have greater impact and increased efficiency. Invest in NTDs, because they are diseases like any other and as such, they deserve all the attention given to other diseases so that their management no longer depends on external inputs but rather on local resources to ensure a sustainable and lasting response.”

– Prospère Diouf, Cross-Sector Coordination Manager, World Vision Senegal


Learn More about NTDs



[i] Historically underfunded and overlooked in the global health agenda, NTDs are a group of 20 diverse “diseases of poverty” commonly found in areas without access to clean water and sanitation infrastructure, rural and hard-to-reach communities, and regions without quality healthcare services. NTDs are often related to environmental conditions, with many transmitted through contaminated food or water or bug bites. They are present in 149 countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

[ii] World Vision is a technical partner for the USAID-funded Act to End NTDs | West Program led by FHI360.

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