NTDs milestones through the years
Since the establishment of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in 1975, the "Neglected Tropical Diseases" world has experienced public health challenges that have required us all to come together with science, solutions and solidarity. This timeline, first published in 2023 on the occasion of WHO’s 75th anniversary, serves as a reminder of some of the most memorable successes and how these have contributed to improve population's health across the world. These milestone achievements also provide inspiration for us to face the health challenges of the future.
1975
Establishment of TDR
WHO establishes and begins hosting the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), which is co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank. As a global programme of scientific collaboration, TDR contributes to strengthening the research capacity of disease-affected countries, and to promoting the translation of evidence into interventions directed against diseases of poverty.
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
WHO/Didier Henrioud
2003
First Berlin meeting on neglected tropical diseases
During the first historic Berlin meeting, experts trigger discussions aimed at changing WHO’s approach to tackling tropical diseases.
Charles Flint
2005
Second Berlin meeting on neglected tropical diseases Establishment of WHO’s NTD programme
The second Berlin meeting sets the scene for a ‘paradigm shift’ - moving away from a traditional disease-centered approach to an integrated one, responding to the specific health needs of marginalized communities. In September, WHO creates the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Taha Al-Mahbashi
2007
First Global Partners’ Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases
In April, WHO hosts the First Global Partners’ Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases, heralding a close multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Report of the first global partner's meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2007 ― A turning point
WHO
2008
First global plan for neglected tropical diseases
WHO publishes its Global Plan to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases 2008–2015, detailing a vision, principles for action, challenges, goals and targets for 2008-2015, strategic areas for action and a framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Global Plan to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2008−2015
2010
First Global NTD report
WHO publishes its ground-breaking, first global NTD Report and its 2011 update, triggering renewed and additional medicine and in-kind donations. The report is complemented by an update released the following year.
WHO
2012
First NTD road map
WHO publishes its first NTD road map with 2015 milestones and 2020 targets. Inspired by the road map, partners endorse the London Declaration committing renewed support to eliminating 10 NTDs.
WHO
2013
Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly
WHO’s decision making body – the World Health Assembly – passes Resolution 66.12 calling on countries to accelerate interventions to eliminate NTDs. WHO releases its second global report on neglected tropical diseases.
WHO/C. Black
2015
A call to invest in NTDs
WHO releases its third global report on neglected tropical diseases, which introduces a key concept: as NTDs can be seen as a proxy for poverty, coverage of the public-health interventions implemented against NTDs may be interpreted as a proxy for universal health coverage and poverty reduction. Investing in NTDs can led to shared prosperity.
M. Saeedi
2016
A billion people are treated in a single year
For the first time NTD interventions reach a billion people within a year, of which 99% through preventive chemotherapy (mass treatment) and the rest through individual disease management – a trend that continued until 2019.
Update on the global status of implementation of preventive chemotherapy
UNICEF India/Dhiraj Singh
2017
Second Global Partners’ Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases
On 19 April, WHO hosts the Second Global Partners’ Meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases amid unprecedented progress. Pledges of more than US$ 800 million dollars are made to accelerate interventions and maximize impact. On the same day, WHO releases it fourth report on NTDs.
2019
Highest coverage of NTD interventions
In the course of 2019, over 1.2 billion people are reached by interventions against NTDs, which overall deliver more than 1.6 billion treatments. Over two thirds of all the individuals requiring treatment for at least one NTD are reached through a range of community-based, school-based and health-facility-based services: the coverage is 66.9%, the highest ever reached.
Update on the global status of implementation of preventive chemotherapy
Merck KGaA
2020
COVID-19 disrupts NTD programmes globally; The NTD road map 2021−2030 is published
On 30 January, WHO declares the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Health programmes, including those for NTDs, are severely disrupted by the pandemic. In November, through Decision 73(33), the World Health Assembly endorses the second NTD road map 2021−2030 and urges Member States to implement it. Since then, eight road map companion documents have been published.
WHO/AFRO
2021
World NTD Day is a global health day
In May, through Decision 74(18), the World Health Assembly establishes World NTD Day as a global health day, to be observed annually on 30 January. On this day in 2012, both the first NTD road map and the London Declaration had been launched.
WHO/C. Black
2022
Declarations and Summits
The Abu Dhabi Declaration on the Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease is adopted on 23 March; major pledges are made during the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs, and the Kigali Declaration is launched on 23 June.
Abu Dhabi Declaration on the Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease
WHO
2023
A year of accomplishments
2023 is marked by a number of events. In January, the WHO global report on neglected tropical diseases is released. In March, WHO convenes the first global meeting on skin NTDs. In June, the global NTD community meets in Geneva for the Global NTD Programme partners’ meeting. In December, major pledges to fight NTDs are made during the COP28 Health Day in Dubai. And just before the end of the year, noma is officially added to the list of NTDs.
WHO
2024
Moving forward
The year opens with the launch of the Global Appeal 2024 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy, hosted by WHO. Over the following months, new partnerships are established: Gavi, United Against Rabies and WHO join forces to make human rabies vaccine available free-of-charge to over 50 countries, while an MoU is signed between the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund and WHO to promote access to NTD drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. 2024 is also marked by a high-level advocacy event convened by the President of Chad to mobilize support towards eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease). During 2024, 7 countries celebrate the elimination of an NTD, but the year draws to a close with the sad news of the demise of former US president Jimmy Carter, who leaves a legacy of unwavering dedication and support to combating NTDs.
The Carter Center