Extracts and comment from me below.
Friday, 30 January 2026
Communities unite to address stigma and discrimination affecting people with neglected tropical diseases
https://www.who.int/news/item/30-01-2026-communities-unite-to-address-st...
Geneva, 30 January 2026 - Marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that millions of people living with NTDs continue to face profound and often unseen suffering due to discrimination, social stigma and untreated mental health conditions. Under the rallying theme "Unite. Act. Eliminate.", WHO and partners urge governments to integrate mental health care into NTD elimination efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind in pain or isolation.
More than 1 billion people worldwide are affected by NTDs and a similar number experience mental health conditions. People affected by NTDs that lead to physical impairments or disfigurement – such as cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma and noma – are particularly vulnerable to stigma and discrimination.
Misconceptions related to contagion and infection further deepen stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. People living with chronic NTDs experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviours compared to both the general population, and those living with other chronic conditions. Yet many do not receive the care and support they need within their communities...
To tackle this urgent gap, WHO recently launched its first WHO global guide on the Essential care package (ECP) to address mental health and stigma for persons with neglected tropical diseases.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240118461
The guide provides health service leaders with a summary of evidence-based interventions for:
• promoting good mental health;
• identifying and assessing mental health conditions in people living with NTDs;
• managing and treating mental health conditions; and
• reducing stigma at individual, community and health systems levels.
COMMENT (NPW): HIFA stands ready to deliver a new project in 2026 to address misinformation and stigma in relation to neglected tropical diseases (or any other health issue). If your organisation would like to co-sponsor such a project, please let us know. www.hifa.org/projects
Organisations that provide £100 or more for HIFA's work are recognised as HIFA partners with partner benefits
www.hifa.org/support/partners
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org