Beyond well-known illnesses such as AIDS,TB and malaria are a group of less-known infectious diseases that kill more than half a million people each year and inflict severe economic, psychosocial and physical damage on millions more in the world's poorest countries. Aptly called 'neglected tropical diseases' (NTDs), they too are devastating to health, but compete far less successfully for scarce resources and attention. The toll of these diseases on individuals, communities and societies extends beyond physical suffering through the economic ramifications of medical expenses and millions of dollars in lost productivity - hampering economic development where it is most needed. Moreover, most affected individuals usually suffer from multiple NTDs, compounding the personal burden of disease and disability. This overlap of disease,however,provides the opportunity to mount an integrated attack on several NTDs at once.