Of all the challenges our world faces, why do we focus on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)?

For END7, the answer is simple. Because these are the most common diseases of the world’s poor, affecting more than a billion people around the world. And treatment and control of NTDs is critical to ending extreme poverty and malnutrition. These diseases stunt children’s growth and ability to learn. Parents grow too weak or disabled to provide for their children. As a result, they trap entire communities in a cycle of disease and poverty.

Not only is NTD treatment inexpensive (we can treat these debilitating diseases with a packet of donated pills), treating these diseases is necessary to ensure that global efforts to aid nutrition, education and development are successful.

Why do we need to act now?

As August comes to a close, we’re approaching a critical moment in the fight against NTDs. This year, for the first time, NTDs are included in the ‘global development to do list’ — an early draft of the Sustainable Development Goals that will guide the world’s efforts to end extreme poverty by 2030.

For the first time, world leaders would prioritize ending the suffering of the world’s poor from NTDs — if we make sure controlling and eliminating NTDs remains a development goal.

High level discussions will begin this fall and we need your help to ensure that NTDs remain in the SDGs during UN Member State negotiations throughout the coming over the next year.

Join us this month in spreading the word. We’re at a critical point in the fight against NTDs and are grateful to have so many END7 supporters speaking out.

Help us grow the movement . And tell us why you’re fighting NTDs by using the hashtag #NTDsnow.