CBM publishes its Neglected Tropical Diseases Report 2016

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The NTD Report 2016 provides details of our work in NTDs in 17 countries across the globe.

Our work with NTDs

CBM has been successfully involved in prevention of blindness from onchocerciasis and trachoma for more than 20 years. In order to fight against the five major Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs - trachoma, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths), CBM works with partners at the global, regional and country levels to support national programmes and their efforts to control or eliminate NTDs. The average costs of treatment are estimated at 50 US cents per person per year. The primary focus in current NTD programmes is on prevention and treatment. However, it is important to recognise the need for continuum of care for people affected, in order to reduce suffering from morbidity, stigma and poverty, and enable participation in family and community life.

Download CBM NTD Report 2016

More than 1 billion people – one-sixth of the world’s population – are affected by one or more NTDs, and another 2 billion people are at risk, mainly in the tropics and sub-tropics. Take a look at our Neglected Tropical Diseases Report 2016 for more information about our work with NTDs.


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Negatively impacting on virtually all of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NTDs hinder development, keeping individuals and communities trapped in a cycle of poverty.

The 17 goals of the SDGs reflect the global pledge to “leave no one behind”. In this context and for the first time NTDs have been included with a specific indicator. Under the health target 3.3 “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases” we now have the specific NTD indicator “A 90% reduction in the number of people requiring NTD interventions”.

The SDG target on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 3.8 is also especially relevant for NTDs as it highlights the need for equitable and quality services for all: “Achieve UHC, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all”. Both targets and respective indicators are promoting health system strengthening for sustainability.

NTDs are also linked to almost all other SDGs such as those related to poverty (SDG 1), hunger (SDG 2), quality education (SDG 4), water and sanitation (SDG 6), climate change (SDG 13) and global partnership (SDG 17). 

From 27 to 30 October 2016 CBM will attend the 10th General assembly of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in Durban, which will be attended by about 1600 delegates from leading organisations around the world. This meeting is of paramount importance to build partnerships and ensure a unified voice across the eye health sector.

CBM is a sponsor and program partner of the 10th General assembly of the IAPB. Dr.Babar Qureshi (Senior Advisor on Eye Health and Director for NTDs at CBM) and David Lewis (Director of Strategic Programmes at CBM Australia) will be conducting a course‘Inclusion made easy in Eye Health programmes'.


Follow live coverage of the event on Facebook, Twitter and the CBM blog. 

Inclusion in eye health

‘Inclusion Made Easy in Eye Health Programs’ is designed for program staff in international development organisations. It is a brief, practical guide on how to ensure eye-health programs are disability-inclusive.


Download the guide
Poverty reduction and the elimination of NTDs go hand-in-hand: addressing NTDs advances health, equity and human rights of over a billion people at risk of NTDs. The inclusion of NTDs into the SDGs under the global pledge to “leave no one behind” is a strong signal to overcome the marginalization of people suffering from NTDs, support our efforts to combat these diseases through comprehensive and inclusive programmes and to unlock their human potential.
Prof. KH Martin Kollmann, CBM Senior Advisor for NTDs