More than 1 billion people suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). A group of parasitic and bacterial diseases, NTDs cause severe disability among the worlds’ poorest—and most neglected—people.
For 15 years, we have supported governments to deliver successful, integrated, cost-effective, and sustainable programs to control and eliminate NTDs. We lead the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) global flagship NTD programs and have partnered with a variety of multilateral and private donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Evidence Action, the END Fund, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the U.K. Department for International Development. Through these efforts, we have reached more than 75 countries with training, technical support, and resources to improve the impact and effectiveness of NTD programs.
The programs we implement play a critical role in reducing the burden of NTDs so they are no longer a public health problem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working with local governments and stakeholders to ensure this work continues, safely adapting interventions and developing resources for the global NTD community. As countries move closer to their NTD goals, we are dedicated to building strong national health systems to ensure that progress is sustainable. We build the evidence base for effective NTD programming, including leveraging internal RTI funding to fill knowledge gaps for NTDs.
