Over one billion people worldwide suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a group of 21 viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). These diseases disproportionately affect the world’s most marginalized populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, where poverty, inadequate healthcare, and poor sanitation create the perfect conditions for their spread.
Beyond their high mortality rates, many of these diseases cause chronic disability, cognitive impairment, and anemia, reducing a person’s ability to work, support their families, or access education. Without proper interventions, NTDs aren’t just a health crisis — they're a poverty trap.