World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
January 30 · Level 7 · #840 of 2238
Neglected tropical diseases hit mostly poor regions, where they get little attention and little funding. This day puts their prevention and treatment in the spotlight.
How it is celebrated: health workers and charities explain treatment programmes, awareness campaigns run online, and in some places buildings and landmarks are lit up in support.
The World Health Organization counts more than 20 diseases and conditions in this group. There are real wins: Guinea worm disease has fallen from millions of cases a year in the 1980s to only a handful today.