Why neglected tropical diseases matter in reducing poverty

Development Progress is an ODI project that aims to measure, understand and communicate where and how progress has been made in development. ODI is the UK's leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. Further ODI materials are available at odi.org.uk • Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have a direct impact on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Without addressing these diseases, the broader aim of poverty alleviation is unlikely to be achieved. • Straightforward and highly cost-effective strategies are available to control and eventually eradicate or eliminate NTDs. • Success in controlling, eliminating or eradicating NTDs depends on partnerships between multiple constituencies that enable countries to adapt international guidelines to local contexts, integrate NTD programmes into health systems and engage communities in implementation.