Neglected tropical disease

London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases

The London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, initiated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched on 30 January 2012 in London. Inspired by the WHO roadmap to eradicate or prevent transmission for neglected tropical diseases, it aimed to eradicate or reduce NTDs by the year 2020. It was endorsed by governments and organisations around the world, as well as major pharmaceutical companies including Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, Merck Sharp & Dohme, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi. It was not a complete success, but millions of lives were saved, the burden of the infections was reduced, and 42 countries eliminated at least one disease. To commemorate the programme, WHO adopted 30 January as the World NTD Day.