World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day

World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- II – Health

In news 

• January 30, 2021 will mark the second annual World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, highlighting the global community’s commitment to ending Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Key takeaways

• On World NTD Day, more than 50 landmarks representing 25 nations across the world will be lit up to celebrate how far we have come together in beating NTDs.
• India too will join these countries, by illuminating UNESCO world heritage site Qutub Minar.
• Background: Originally announced by the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi at the 2019 Reaching the Last Mile Forum, hundreds of partners signed up to mark World NTD Day and demand action to Face NTDs and End The Neglect.

Do you know?

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections which are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms (helminths).
• They include dengue, rabies, blinding trachoma, Buruli ulcer, endemic treponematoses (yaws), leprosy (Hansen disease) etc.
• These diseases are contrasted with the big three infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria), which generally receive greater treatment and research funding.
• 1 in 5 people around the world are affected by NTDs. 
• India is home to the world’s largest absolute burden of at least 11 of these major neglected tropical diseases.