10th Meeting of the Regional Programme Advisory Group on Preventive Chemotherapy for Neglected Tropical Diseases (PC-NTD RPAG)

Brazzaville, Congo - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, through the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), is convening the 10th Meeting of the Regional Programme Advisory Group on Preventive Chemotherapy for Neglected Tropical Diseases (PC-NTD RPAG) in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 28 to 30 October 2025.

This milestone meeting brings together regional NTD experts, Member States, partners, and donors to review progress, provide technical guidance, and shape the strategic direction for accelerating the elimination of NTDs in the African Region in line with the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030.

Participants at the 10th PC-NTD Regional Programme Advisory Group Meeting

About the RPAG

The RPAG is a regional technical advisory body that provides evidence-based recommendations to WHO/AFRO and Member States on the implementation, monitoring, and sustainability of NTD programmes. It plays a central role in ensuring alignment between national efforts and global targets, advising on integration, data use, supply chain management, and cross-sectoral coordination. 

Objectives of the 10th RPAG Meeting

• Review progress on the recommendations from the 9th RPAG and identify key actions to address remaining challenges.
• Provide technical and strategic input into the ESPEN Strategy 2026–2030, emphasizing sustainability, digital transformation, and country ownership.
• Review and endorse draft regional strategies and frameworks for Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted Helminthiases, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, and One Health approaches.
• Define priorities and milestones to guide countries and partners toward achieving the 2030 NTD elimination goals.

Expected Outcomes

The meeting will deliver a set of regional recommendations on programme priorities, monitoring and evaluation, and supply chain management, as well as inputs to finalize the ESPEN Strategy 2026–2030 and the upcoming Tropical and Vector-borne Diseases Framework 2026.

The 10th RPAG marks a significant step in the Region’s transition from disease control to sustainable elimination, reaffirming Africa’s commitment to a continent free of Neglected Tropical Diseases.