Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of disease conditions that most heavily affect people living without access to adequate sanitation, basic infrastructure and health services. But these diseases can be effectively controlled, eliminated or eradicated through a combination of effective public health interventions. In the Western Pacific Region, 15 NTDs are endemic in 28 countries and areas. In the last two decades, the Western Pacific Region has seen remarkable progress, primarily through preventive chemotherapy or mass drug administration (MDA). From 2016 to 2020, 12 countries and areas were validated for elimination of lymphatic filariasis and/or trachoma as a public health problem. In 2020 alone, more than 41 million people in 14 countries out of 71 million people in need received MDA or at least one NTD in the Region, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

NTD profiles currently provide a summary of key programme indicators for each country and area of the Western Pacific Region on rabies, lymphatic filariasis, yaws, trachoma, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases. More NTDs will be progressively included in the near future.