Working to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases: First WHO report on neglected tropical diseases.

First WHO Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2010 Neglected tropical diseases blight the lives of a billion people worldwide and threaten the health of millions more. These close companions of poverty weaken impoverished populations, frustrate the achievement of health in the Millennium Development Goals and impede global public health outcomes. This report presents evidence to demonstrate that activities undertaken to prevent and control neglected tropical diseases are producing results – and that achievements are being recognized. By 2008, preventive chemotherapy had reached more than 670 million people in 75 countries.