Thursday 30 January 2025 (Abu Dhabi, UAE) – Today, on World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) reaffirms its commitment to helping eliminate preventable infectious diseases that continue to burden the world’s most vulnerable populations. NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. This day serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need for coordinated action to consign these ancient diseases to the history books.

“World NTD Day shines a light on diseases and people that have for too long been overlooked. These diseases have a devastating impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, impacting their own potential and that of their communities and countries. At GLIDE, we are dedicated to forging partnerships, strengthen capacity, and add to the body of knowledge to help drive action to eliminate NTDs,” said Simon Bland, CEO of GLIDE.

As an institute rooted in Abu Dhabi, GLIDE is proud to build on the UAE’s legacy of championing global health initiatives to help improve the lives and well-being of billions of people worldwide, including efforts to eliminate NTDs.

“Eliminating NTDs is a moral imperative and a testament to the power of collective effort, which is aligned with the recent announcement from HH President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that 2025 is the Year of Community. Only by engaging communities and the people affected by NTDs will we be successful in our efforts to achieve elimination. On this day, we celebrate progress made and recommit ourselves to reaching the last mile,” said Dr Farida Al Hosani, Deputy CEO of GLIDE.

GLIDE stands alongside partners worldwide to accelerate the journey toward a world free of NTDs. Together, we can make elimination a reality and help achieve a healthier, more equitable future for all.