Message from WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Today, on 30 January, WHO joins the global community in commemorating World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day. A key time to reflect on our progress and celebrate our achievements, it is also an opportunity to recommit to the task of ending the burden of NTDs in the African Region, and the world.
This year’s theme, Unite, Act, Eliminate, reminds us of the power of collaboration, the importance of action, and the urgency of our ultimate goal – a continent free of NTDs.
Unity has been the cornerstone of every success in the fight against NTDs. Partnerships between communities, health care workers, governments, donors and the pharmaceutical industry have transformed what once seemed impossible into remarkable achievements.
Unprecedented donations of medicines from the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with the dedication of health workers and local volunteers, have reached even the most remote communities.
But unity goes beyond partnerships. It means inclusion. Vulnerable populations, often disproportionately impacted by NTDs, must remain at the centre of our efforts. By building equitable systems that leave no one behind, we ensure sustainable progress.
After a five-year hiatus, the second meeting of African researchers on NTDs, in Kigali this month, underlined the importance of uniting science, policy and practice. It is through operational research and innovation that we unlock new tools, treatments and diagnostics to accelerate elimination efforts.
Progress demands action – moving from words to measurable outcomes.
In the WHO African Region, over 276 million people no longer require treatment for lymphatic filariasis since 2014. We have also seen life-changing results from targeted interventions against guinea worm, sleeping sickness, river blindness and trachoma. These victories show what is possible when action is grounded in evidence, and driven by commitment.
Yet, our journey is far from over. Climate change poses emerging threats to NTD elimination efforts, affecting disease patterns and increasing vulnerabilities within our communities. WHO is working closely with Member States to adapt public health strategies, enhance surveillance, and ensure timely responses to these evolving challenges.
People-centred approaches and community engagement remain essential. By empowering communities, we ensure that NTD interventions are not only effective, but also equitable and sustainable.
I am especially proud of the progress made through the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme. This month, we launched the second cohort of this programme to promote women leadership in NTDs, and increased the number of women experts being mentored to 15. This transformative initiative reflects our commitment to promoting gender equity in global health.
Our ultimate goal is clear: an Africa free of NTDs.
Elimination is not just a dream; it is a target within reach. By the end of 2024, 20 countries in our Region had eliminated at least one NTD. This month, we celebrated Niger as the first country in the Region to be verified for eliminating river blindness, and Guinea became the ninth country validated for eliminating sleeping sickness as a public health problem.
Togo’s remarkable achievement as the only country in the world to be validated for having eliminated four NTDs serves as further proof of what is possible when determination meets action.
Eliminating NTDs is about more than improving health outcomes. It unlocks the potential of individuals, families and communities. Children can attend school, adults can work productively and societies can thrive.
Today, let us renew our resolve to Unite, Act, and Eliminate. Together, we can achieve a future in which NTDs are no longer a burden on our communities.
Learn more:
- Striving to eliminate NTDs in the WHO African Region – WHO in an era of transformation
- The Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme for Women in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
- Ending the neglect: Lessons from a decade of success in reponding to NTDs
- Sustaining the fight against neglected tropical diseases in South Sudan
- WHO Africa welcomes new commitment by global partners to end neglected tropical diseases