International Development Minister Stephen O'Brien visited Mabokweni village in Tanga, Tanzania to see the mass distribution of drugs that will help to prevent and treat neglected tropical diseases.

On 21 January 2012, Stephen O'Brien announced that Britain will supply more than four treatments every second for people in the developing world for the next four years as part of a global push to help eliminate infectious tropical diseases.

British support is leading the way and will protect more than 140 million of the world's poorest men, women and children from the agonising pain caused by these avoidable infections which deform, disable, blind and kill.

The pledge marks a five-fold increase in Britain's support as part of an international effort to help rid the world of neglected tropical diseases, currently affecting one billion people and killing more than half a million every year.

It comes ahead of a conference in London on 30 January 2012 when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, governments, NGOs, multilateral organisations and the private sector will unite to help consign the diseases to history. 

Watch the video below and also find out more at: www.dfid.gov.uk/ntd-jan2012