Events

Capacity-Building Opportunity: Disease Elimination & Eradication Course (DEEC) 2026 ESPEN is pleased to share a unique training opportunity hosted by our partners: GLIDE, the University of Global Health Equity, and The Carter Center. Running from July 20 to September 8, 2026, this hybrid (online and in-person in Rwanda) course is designed for mid-career public health professionals and Ministry of Health country teams looking to build advanced competencies in strategy development for NTD, malaria, and polio elimination. Scholarship support is available for eligible applicants. Review the details and submit your application by June 15, 2026. 

WHO AFRO and ESPEN cordially invite you to attend a one‑hour webinar on 25th June (Anglophone) and 26th June (Francophone) presenting key outcomes and lessons learned from the Training Workshop on Dossier Preparation Guidelines and Quality Assessment of Preventive Chemotherapy NTD (PC‑NTD) Elimination Dossiers, held in Brazzaville from 19–21 May 2026.

ESPEN will convene a regional workshop from 15 to 19 June 2026 in Kintélé, Brazzaville, to strengthen national capacities in supply chain coordination and medicine forecasting. The event will bring together national supply chain officers, WHO experts, and pharmaceutical partners to optimize delivery systems and accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases across Africa.

ESPEN will convene a regional workshop from 19–21 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

Malawi is advancing the implementation of WHO guidance on Integrated Post-Validation Surveillance (PVS) for NTDs through a national technical workshop. Building on its elimination of lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, and leprosy as public health problems, the country is strengthening system-wide surveillance to detect and respond to potential recrudescence. Supported by GLIDE and WHO/ESPEN, this initiative reinforces country-led, sustainable surveillance embedded within national health systems.

WHO AFRO will convene the second meeting (virtual) of the Regional Technical Advisory Group on Urogenital Schistosomiasis (TAG-UGS) on 29 April 2026 to review and validate key regional tools supporting UGS integration. Bringing together technical experts and WHO teams, the session will refine guidance and align approaches to ensure relevance for country implementation. This meeting marks an important step in advancing coordinated, system-based responses to UGS across the African Region.

WHO AFRO will host a regional webinar on 22 April 2026 to advance the integration of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) within national health systems across the African Region. Bringing together countries, partners, and experts, the session will highlight practical pathways to embed UGS into existing services such as SRHR, HIV/STI programmes, and primary health care. The webinar will also showcase regional tools and coordination efforts to support countries in moving towards integrated, person-centred approaches.

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.

The Lymphatic Filariasis Dossier Development Webinar: Lessons Learned will bring together national programme managers, WHO experts, and partners to share practical guidance on preparing elimination dossiers and navigating the WHO validation process. The session will highlight country experiences and best practices to support countries approaching validation of LF elimination as a public health problem.

ESPEN will convene the first in-person meeting of the Regional Expert Advisory Group on Urogenital Schistosomiasis (TAG-UGS) on 17–18 February 2026 in Brazzaville. The meeting will bring together regional experts and WHO technical teams to formally launch the TAG-UGS, review the regional status of urogenital schistosomiasis, and define priority actions to strengthen diagnosis, reporting, and integration within sexual and reproductive health services. The discussions will support harmonized, gender-responsive approaches aligned with the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030.

To mark World NTD Day 2026, ESPEN and WHO AFRO will commemorate the day in Brazzaville under the global theme “Unite. Act. Eliminate.” The event will combine an awareness session on onchocerciasis, a symbolic ivermectin distribution, and a Walk the Talk activity in Brazzaville to highlight the local relevance of NTDs and the collective action needed to sustain progress towards elimination.

To mark World NTD Day 2026, ESPEN will convene a regional webinar under the theme “Protecting Africa’s NTD Progress in a Time of Global Uncertainty.” The session will bring together countries, partners, and stakeholders to reflect on progress, share lessons learnt, and discuss priorities for sustaining NTD elimination efforts amid funding constraints and competing global challenges. Aligned with the global call to Unite, Act, Eliminate, the webinar will highlight the importance of coordinated action and investment to protect hard-won gains and accelerate progress toward the 2030 targets.