PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: Will a new 2017 global leadership commit to NTDs?
Peter J. Hotez and Serap Aksoy, editors in chief of PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

“…At the start of 2017 we will see new leadership at the U.N., WHO, and the U.S. and U.K. governments. Together with the World Bank and other U.N. agencies, there will be a need to regroup, refocus, and redouble global efforts towards NTD elimination. A multipronged and multinational approach will be required that includes expanding [mass drug administration (MDA)], advancing additional disease elimination targets, and creating an ambitious R&D agenda. So far, the U.S. and U.K. governments together with the governments of Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and the E.U. have been mostly alone in providing external funds for the NTD programs. This situation must change to a broader G20 remit, hopefully through an expansion in NTD support and activities initiated by the new global leaders in 2017” (3/23).