Guideline for Applicants
“#1 Neglected Tropical Diseases Student Contest”

１.   What are Neglected Tropical Diseases? 

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 20 diseases that WHO defines as 'tropical diseases that humanity must control,' with up to one billion people, mainly the poor in the tropics, still at risk of infection.  Many NTDs are spread by the effects of poverty and poor sanitation. Some NTDs can also leave people with severe physical disabilities for life, affecting their economic and social lives. This leads to new challenges of living in poverty. Some NTDs are also deadly diseases and hinder economic growth in endemic countries in Asia and Africa. 

The elimination of NTDs is in line with Target 3.3 of the SDGs, "By 2030, eradicate communicable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases, and address hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other infectious diseases." As stipulated, control of NTDs is essential for a better future for the planet and humanity, and the world needs to work together to promote countermeasures. 

Why don't you join us in thinking about NTDs to realize the world where health is available to all people on the planet? 

2.   Application Requirements 

・Contest Overview 

The World Health Assembly (WHA) recognizes January 30 as World NTD Day. NTDs are named tropical diseases, but they are deeply relevant to Japan. Some NTDs are still present in Japan. In addition, a lot of companies, and organizations, as well as the Japanese government, contribute to a wide range of aspects of the disease, including developing, manufacturing, and researching therapeutic agents. 

This contest aims to improve young awareness and comprehension of NTDs and consider what we can do. The competition will take place in Japan as part of the international "World NTD Day" events. 

・Application Category 

【Category A】
Category for telling NTDs in an easy-to-understand way 〜NTDs in your own words〜 

・Submission①： a video recording of presentations of up to 3 minutes 

【Category B】
Category for considering what you can do for NTDs How can we contribute to NTDs〜 

・Submission①：documents 

Please describe the following items, convert the document to PDF and submit them.

・the significance of our contribution to NTDs in Japan (300 words or less). 

・the issues and background of the NTDs you wish to address (500 words or less). 

・specific solutions and feasibility (500 words or less) 

・Optional submission①：a video（within 10 minutes） 

The first selection will be made on the basis of the documents, and then the content of the video will be taken into account if there are other works with the same rating. 

The content of the video can be free format and supplements the documents as in category A. Please note that if you are a finalist and have not submitted a video, we will contact you.