Updates & events
Latest news
To mark World NTD Day 2026, WHO AFRO held an Onchocerciasis Awareness Session and “Walk the Talk” initiative at its Regional Office in Brazzaville, bringing together over 150 staff members. The event combined technical awareness, on-site ivermectin distribution, and a collective walk to promote prevention, staff well-being, and WHO AFRO’s continued commitment to eliminating neglected tropical diseases across the Region.
WHO NTD experts across Africa are taking elimination efforts to the hardest-to-reach communities—along rivers, forests, mountains, and nomadic routes—where disease persists as access fades. Through perseverance, community trust, and data-driven action, their work shows that ending NTDs depends not only on medicines and plans, but on a sustained commitment to reach the last mile.
A new open-access article in BMC Proceedings presents key insights from the 2025 Annual Meeting of National NTD Programme Managers in the WHO African Region, highlighting the need for sustained financing, stronger integration within health systems, and innovative digital solutions. The publication captures country experiences and strategic priorities to accelerate progress toward the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030 targets.
Upcoming events
The Annual Meeting of NTD Programme Managers in Africa will take place from 13–16 April 2026 in Lilongwe, Malawi, convening programme leaders and partners from across the region. The meeting will provide a platform to review progress, share practical solutions, and strengthen coordination on the use of digital tools, integration of NTD services within primary health care, and sustainable financing. Discussions will focus on sustaining momentum and accelerating progress toward the 2030 NTD targets.
ESPEN will convene a regional workshop from 18–22 May 2026 in Brazzaville to strengthen country capacity for the preparation and submission of high-quality PC-NTD elimination dossiers. Bringing together national NTD programme staff, dossier committee members, and WHO experts from countries nearing elimination milestones, the workshop will address common challenges in data quality, completeness, and evidence synthesis. The event aims to reinforce country ownership of the dossier process and support timely, credible submissions in line with WHO requirements and the 2030 NTD Roadmap
These meetings are more than just a congregation of minds; they are a rallying point for action. The challenges of funding and resource allocation, especially in the wake of the pandemic, have brought to the fore the urgency of advocacy, innovative resource mobilization, and the criticality of country ownership.
These gatherings serve as a platform for sharing best practices, technical updates, and fostering cross-sectoral collaborations, crucial for sustaining momentum and adapting to evolving public health landscapes.
A dynamic platform bringing together Member States, partners, and donors every quarter to share progress, innovations, and lessons learned in the fight against NTDs across Africa. These webinars strengthen collaboration, visibility, and data-driven decision-making — fostering a connected community committed to achieving the 2030 NTD Roadmap targets.