World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day:
Neglected tropical disease day is observed every year on 30th January. It was declared in the 74th World Health Assembly (2021).
- The proposal to recognise the day was floated by the United Arab Emirates.
- It was adopted unanimously by the delegates.
- The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs):
- NTDs are a group of infections that are most common among marginalized communities in the developing regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
- They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms.
- NTDs are especially common in tropical areas where people do not have access to clean water or safe ways to dispose of human waste.
- These diseases generally receive less funding for research and treatment than malaises like tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and malaria.
- Examples of NTDs are: snakebite envenomation, scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease etc.
- World NTD Day commemorates the simultaneous launch of the first NTD road map (2012-2020) and the London Declaration on NTDs on 30th January 2012.
- London Declaration on NTDs: It was adopted on 30th January, 2012 to recognise the global burden of NTDs.
- Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, representatives from leading global pharmaceutical companies as well as representatives of several national governments met at London’s Royal College of physicians to pledge to end the diseases.
