Neglected tropical diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) blight the lives of a billion people worldwide and threaten the health of millions more. These ancient companions of poverty weaken impoverished populations, frustrate the achievement of health in the Millennium Development Goals and impede global public health outcomes. An evaluation of their significance to public health and economies has convinced governments, donors, the pharmaceutical industry and other agencies, including nongovernmental organizations, to invest in preventing and controlling this diverse group of diseases.
fact buffet
Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)
99%The decrease in the number of new cases of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) since 1989
Analysis of situation and trendsPreventive chemotherapy
705 millionThe number of people that have been reached by preventive chemotherapy for at least one disease in 2009
WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record, 13 January 2012pdf, 895kb
Human African trypanosomiasis
75%The decrease in the reported number of cases of human African trypanosomiasis from 1999–2010
Analysis of situation and trends
