NCIRS is working with nations in the Pacific to help eradicate neglected tropical diseases.

Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: global progress and regional action toward elimination

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remain among the world’s most persistent causes of illness, disability, poverty and social isolation.

Affecting more than one billion people globally, these preventable and treatable diseases are more likely to affect underserved populations living in poverty, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

In the Asia Pacific region, common NTDs include hookworm, which causes anaemia; scabies, which causes skin infections; trachoma, which causes blindness; and lymphatic filariasis, which damages the lymphatic system and causes painful and disfiguring swellings of limbs and the scrotum.

Dengue, a viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes, continues to cause outbreaks leading to high fever, severe body pain, and in some cases life‑threatening complications.

Rabies, caused by a virus typically spread through the bite of an infected animal – most often dogs – remains a fatal disease once symptoms appear, highlighting the importance of timely post‑exposure treatment and dog-vaccination programs.

As the international community marks World NTD Day on 30 January, it’s an important moment to reflect on progress, identify gaps, and reinforce commitments to ending the neglect.

The 2025 WHO progress report outlines how the world is moving closer to its 2030 targets for ending neglected tropical diseases.

The latest updates highlight:

• progress across many areas of NTD work, from specific diseases to overall program efforts, showing where countries are advancing and where more focus is needed
• new insights into how many people are affected and treated, including updated estimates of illness, deaths, and the overall impact on people’s health
• a clearer picture of how NTDs contribute to financial hardship, especially families and communities already experiencing poverty
• a review of what is working well and what still needs improvement, including better diagnostic tests and tools, stronger monitoring systems, reliable supply chains, and continued advocacy and funding
• global funding trends, noting that there is competition for limited funding. 

Although the 20‑year review shows how much progress can be made when countries and partners work together, it also reminds us that continued success depends on stable funding, strong surveillance systems, and ensuring communities everywhere can access the treatments and tools they need.
 

Global progress toward the 2030 targets

NTDs are steadily declining worldwide.

In 2024, about 1.4 billion people required NTD interventions – a 36% decrease from 2010.

As of early 2026, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, building on the momentum of global action.

For example, lymphatic filariasis has been eliminated in Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia, while trachoma has been eliminated in Cambodia, Nepal, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Lao PDR.

Dengue, however, remains far from eradicated.

The WHO reports that dengue transmission occurs in around 90 countries, with millions of global cases still recorded annually and significant outbreaks continuing across the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

No country has achieved dengue eradication – in fact, global dengue cases have risen in recent years.

In contrast, rabies elimination efforts have achieved notable successes.

The ancient viral disease has been eliminated as a public health problem in several places, with a particular achievement being the successful elimination of dog‑mediated human rabies in some nations.

Many countries – including Japan, Australia, the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Kiribati and others – are classified as rabies‑free, reflecting robust surveillance and control programs that have prevented endemic transmission.

The number of people requiring treatment continues to fall dramatically as countries scale up integrated programs.

The growing coalition of governments, non-government organisations (NGOs), research institutions and donors continues to work toward WHO’s target of 100 countries achieving elimination by 2030 – a target that is increasingly within reach thanks to sustained effort and data‑driven decision‑making.
 

Why neglected tropical diseases still matter

Despite substantial progress, NTDs continue to impose considerable human and economic costs. Many cause lifelong disability, visual impairment, disfigurement, chronic pain and lost productivity. In communities with limited access to health services, NTDs can perpetuate cycles of poverty.

Global data repeatedly show that progress is fragile: funding gaps, supply chain interruptions, or disruptions in surveillance systems can reverse gains. NGOs warn that without sustained investment countries may see resurgences of disease burden after years of declining numbers of cases.
 

Strengthening the capacity of health systems across Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Although NCIRS’ primary mandate focuses on vaccine-preventable diseases, the systems we help strengthen – surveillance networks and workforce development – are foundational for the integrated public health responses required for NTD elimination efforts in the region.

Across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, NCIRS’ Global Health team supports:

• strengthening infectious disease surveillance systems that help countries detect, track and respond to diseases that overlap with NTD-endemic regions
• capacity building and technical collaboration with ministries of health, academic partners, WHO regional offices and local partners
• immunisation and disease control programs that contribute to broader health system resilience, and both directly and indirectly reinforce NTD elimination efforts
• monitoring and evaluation approaches aligned with WHO’s roadmap, including leveraging improved diagnostics and data-quality systems.
  
   

Looking ahead: equity, collaboration and sustained action

As the world observes World NTD Day, the global health community is reminded that the path to elimination will require:

• continued financial commitment from donors and national governments
• strengthened surveillance and monitoring systems
• better diagnostics and timely data
• community‑centred implementation strategies, reflecting WHO’s 2026 theme of meaningful community participation.  

NCIRS Global Health remains committed to supporting regional partners across Southeast Asia and the Pacific as part of this collective effort – ensuring that strong surveillance, high‑quality data and resilient health systems continue to drive progress toward a world free of NTDs.