World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
About World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, commonly called World NTD Day, is observed on 30 January to raise awareness of neglected tropical diseases and support efforts to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate them.
Global partners first marked World NTD Day before formal World Health Assembly recognition; in 2021 the Assembly recognized 30 January through decision WHA74(18), after which WHO joined the global campaign.
Why World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day matters
Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of conditions, so the day is not about a single diagnosis or intervention. Its common thread is the burden these diseases place on populations that often face poverty, limited services and other barriers to care.
Useful observance therefore combines disease-specific evidence with attention to access, stigma, prevention, treatment and long-term public-health systems.
History of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
Global NTD partners first informally celebrated World NTD Day on 30 January 2020 and continued partner-led observance in 2021.
On 31 May 2021, the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly adopted decision WHA74(18), recognizing 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day and welcoming continued observance. WHO subsequently joined the NTD community’s global call.
The date commemorates major milestones associated with 30 January, including the 2012 launch of the first WHO NTD road map and the London Declaration on NTDs.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Partner-led World NTD Day
Global NTD partners first marked the day informally in 2020; the World Health Assembly formally recognized 30 January through WHA74(18) in 2021, after which WHO joined the global campaign.
United Arab Emirates, with other Member States and partners, for formal World Health Assembly recognition
WHO describes the WHA recognition as building on work spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates with other Member States and partners. This field refers to the formal-recognition proposal path, not sole creation of the earlier partner-led observance.
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly decision WHA74(18)
First documented observance
WHO states that partners first informally celebrated World NTD Day in 2020.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Following WHA74(18), WHO joined the NTD community’s global campaign and maintains the official World NTD Day campaign page.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Also known as
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
How to Observe World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
Choose a specific neglected tropical disease relevant to a country or community and use WHO or national-health sources rather than treating all NTDs as one condition.
Discuss how water, sanitation, housing, vector control, access to medicines and health services can interact with disease prevention and control.
Use person-first, non-stigmatizing language when discussing visible disability, poverty or communities affected by an NTD.
Support established public-health programmes, community health workers or reputable organizations working on evidence-based NTD control.
Direct personal questions about symptoms, testing or treatment to qualified health professionals and locally appropriate services.
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Facts
World NTD Day is observed on 30 January.
Global partners first informally celebrated the day in 2020.
The World Health Assembly recognized 30 January through decision WHA74(18) on 31 May 2021.
WHO joined the global campaign following WHA recognition.
30 January is connected with major NTD milestones including the first WHO NTD road map and the London Declaration in 2012.
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Messages
Marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day with care means learning from credible sources and making space for the voices and experiences of people most affected.
Today, may World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day turn attention into informed action, empathy and support that lasts beyond a single day.
On World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, may awareness be matched by compassion, reliable information and practical support for people directly affected.
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is a reminder to listen without stigma, share trustworthy information and treat every person with dignity.
On World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, support affected communities seeking prevention, treatment and stronger health systems.
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Quotes
“Neglected tropical diseases are not inevitable. They persist not because solutions are lacking, but because inequities remain.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
World Health Organization — WHA74(18), World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — World NTD Day (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
World Health Organization — Global health days and weeks (opens in a new tab)
Official Agency Registry
World Health Organization — World Health Assembly adopts decision to recognize 30 January as World NTD Day (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day?
30 January The documented recurrence rule is: 30 January.
Does World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: World Health Organization official global public-health day. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day?
The reviewed sources identify World Health Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as United Arab Emirates, with other Member States and partners, for formal World Health Assembly recognition. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Health Organization (WHO).
Is World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: World Health Organization official global public-health day. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is World NTD Day?
It is observed every year on 30 January.
Did WHO create the first World NTD Day?
No. WHO states that global partners first informally celebrated World NTD Day in 2020. The World Health Assembly formally recognized 30 January in 2021, after which WHO joined the campaign.
Is one treatment used for all neglected tropical diseases?
No. NTDs are a diverse group of diseases and conditions; prevention, diagnosis and treatment differ by disease and setting.
Other observances on January 30
These observances are also listed on January 30, 2027.
School Day of Non-Violence and Peace
UNICEF Spain states that the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace is celebrated every year on January 30.