More than 1 billion people—one-sixth of the world's population—suffer from one or more Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
NTDs are a group of infectious diseases that are the source of tremendous suffering because of their disfiguring, debilitating, and sometimes deadly impact. They are called neglected because they have been largely wiped out in the more developed parts of the world and persist only in the poorest, most marginalized communities and conflict areas.
Social stigma is a major consequence of NTDs. In addition to causing physical and emotional suffering, these devastating diseases hamper a person's ability to work, keep children out of school, and prevent families and communities from thriving.
Image: Nigerian children at-risk of infection with NTDs. Credit: CDC photo, Sonia Pelletreau.