Posted: December 21, 2022

World NTD Day 2023

The overarching belief that a world free of the morbidity from Neglected Tropical Diseases and Intestinal Worms is possible, is the foundation of the mission of Children Without Worms (CWW). NTDs have historically been under-addressed and absent from any global health policies. The world officially prioritized the eradication of NTDs only in 2015 with the implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One important NTD that is especially important to address is Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH). CWW empowers national NTD programs to make evidence-driven decisions for program improvements in their national STH program efforts. People with greater STH infection and heavier worm loads often suffer with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, malnutrition, fatigue and weakness. In children, intestinal worms can retard growth and limit physical development. These impacts are often far-reaching, and can bring about negative outcomes in the economic, social and educational aspects of life.

To bring out change, and reduce the burden of STH worldwide, we need concerted action, sustainable financing, active collaboration and knowledge sharing, and integration of interventions. Till date, 46 countries have eliminated an NTD, which indicates that our goal is achievable. If we as a collective can tackle the lack of resources, equity and utilize data-driven methods, we can all make our towards the control, elimination, and eradication of NTDs. On World NTD Day in January 2030, CWW, together with all peer organizations and entities in the global health sphere, will commit to supporting countries to achieve the targets set for NTD and STH elimination and control in the WHO 2030 NTD Roadmap.