If you’ve never heard of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), you’re not alone.
And that’s part of the problem.
NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, yet they receive far less attention, funding, and urgency than other global health issues. Not because they are rare — but because the people affected are often overlooked.
Neglect is the common thread. And stigma keeps it in place.
What Are Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)?
Neglected Tropical Diseases are a group of infectious diseases caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are most common in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in communities facing poverty, limited healthcare access, and inadequate sanitation.
Examples of NTDs include leprosy, lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), buruli ulcer, yaws, and onchocerciasis.
When left untreated, NTDs can cause:
- Chronic illness and permanent disability
- Visible symptoms that lead to stigma and exclusion
- Lost education, income, and opportunity
These diseases don’t just affect health — they shape whether someone is able to live openly, safely, and with dignity.
Why NTDs Persist: Neglect and Stigma
Most NTDs are preventable, treatable, or even curable. NTDs have been eliminated in the most developed countries in the world, while persisting in others. They persist not because solutions don’t exist, but because the people affected have historically been ignored.
The effects of NTDs go beyond physical symptoms, often leading to profound mental health challenges. Stigma plays a powerful role. For example, an estimated 3–4 million people live with leprosy-related disabilities, often the result of delayed diagnosis and treatment. Fear, misinformation, and shame often prevent people from seeking care early — or at all. In many communities, visible symptoms lead to social isolation, reinforcing silence and delay.
This cycle of neglect allows disease to continue quietly, generation after generation.
Why Effect Hope Focuses on NTDs
At Effect Hope, we work with NTDs because we are committed to caring for people who have been neglected. We believe every person deserves good health, social well-being, and a life lived with dignity — regardless of where they live or how visible their needs may be.
By focusing on NTDs, we choose to stand with communities that have been overlooked for generations, recognizing that neglect — not disease — is often the greatest barrier people face.
This holistic approach goes far beyond any single intervention and is designed to:
- Remove barriers to care by ensuring people can seek help early, safely, and without fear of exclusion or shame
- Strengthen community health systems so care, education, and support are accessible long term — not dependent on short-term fixes
- Reduce stigma and social isolation through awareness, inclusion, and community-led education
- Empower individuals and communities to advocate for themselves, participate in decision-making, and lead change locally
- Invest in innovation and learning to continuously improve how support reaches people who are most often missed
When NTDs are addressed early and holistically, the impact ripples outward:
- Disability is prevented or minimized
- Stigma is replaced with understanding and belonging
- Children remain in school, and families maintain stability
- Communities become more resilient, informed, and self-sufficient
This work creates lasting change that extends far beyond health alone — renewing opportunity, confidence, and the ability for people to fully participate in their communities.
Learn More About NTDs — and Our Work
Learn more about our impact and our work to address NTDs and care for communities affected by neglect and stigma.
Stigma is still a thing. Together, we can stop it.
Full List of WHO-Recognized Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs):
