World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day | Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

World NTD Day aims to mobilize political will and secure commitments to eliminate NTDs in support of the WHO’s NTD Roadmap 2021-2030.

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World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Recently, the World observed the 3rd World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day on 30^th January 2022.
India also joined the global movement to illuminate 100 landmarks across the globe to raise awareness on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
- India joined close to 40 other nations to illuminate the iconic New Delhi Railway Station in purple and orange hues.

About: World Health Assembly declared 30th January as ‘World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day in 2021.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) led the proposal to declare 30^th January as the World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day in the 74^th World Health Assembly.
- The first World NTD Day was celebrated informally in 2020.
Objectives: World NTD Day aims to mobilize political will and secure commitments to eliminate NTDs in support of the WHO’s NTD Roadmap 2021-2030, including the elimination of at least 1 NTD from 100 countries by 2030.
- World NTD Day serves as a catalyst to translate awareness into action, secure increased resources for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
- World NTD Day crucially facilitates political leadership and ownership of NTD programs from affected countries.
Organization in India: in India, National Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) is responsible for organizing and observing the World NTD Day.

About: Neglected tropical diseases(NTDs) are widespread in the world’s poorest regions, where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are substandard.
Transmission and Spread of the Disease: NTDs affect over 1.7 billion people globally and are caused mostly by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
Reasons for Negligence: Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are “neglected” because they are almost absent from the global health agenda, enjoy little funding, and are associated with stigma and social exclusion.
- They are diseases of neglected populations that perpetuate a cycle of poor educational outcomes and limited professional opportunities.