can help to assure governments and donors that the resources directed toward NTDs represent a good investment. (8) Research and development efforts are immediately needed for all NTDs, especially those for which limited or no treatment currently exists. (9) Critical to developing robust NTD control strategies are epidemiological data that identify at-risk populations, ensure appropriate treatment frequency, and inform decisions about when treatment can be reduced or stopped. (10) The benefits of deworming are immediate and enduring. A rigorous, randomized controlled trial has shown school-based deworming treatment to reduce school absenteeism by 25 percent. School-based deworming also benefits young siblings and other children who live nearby but are too young to be treated, leading to large cognitive improvements equivalent to 1/2 of a year of schooling. (11) Improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene can also reduce the transmission of NTDs, particularly intestinal worms. 5. Definitions In this Act: (1) Global Fund The term Global Fund means the public-private partnership known as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria established pursuant to Article 80 of the Swiss Civil Code. (2) Neglected tropical diseases