New ESPEN Report Reveals How African NTD Programmes Are Adapting Amid Funding Shortfalls

Brazzaville, Congo – In the face of a challenging financial landscape, a new regional assessment published by the WHO/AFRO Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) provides a detailed picture of how national NTD programmes are adjusting to protect critical interventions. The report, titled “Sustaining Momentum in NTD Programmes Amidst a Reduced Funding Landscape”, compiles findings from 25 programme leads across 18 countries responding to the ripple effects of the current USAID funding pause.

The findings are clear: many countries are seeing delays in essential activities like Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and disease surveillance surveys. Interventions targeting schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and trachoma are at risk. Yet, the report also documents a determined and strategic response from countries committed to maintaining progress against NTDs.

A key concern highlighted is the risk of medicine expiry. Over 10 countries report significant quantities of essential medicines—including Albendazole, Praziquantel, and Ivermectin—at risk of expiry between May and October 2025. In several cases, more than 5 million tablets could be wasted unless delivery and use plans are urgently adapted.

Still, countries are not standing still. The assessment notes a growing trend towards integrating NTD activities with broader health campaigns such as immunization drives and maternal-child health services. Several programmes have also reoriented their delivery platforms, shifting to more adaptable models that include health facility-based and mixed-channel approaches. Additionally, some governments, like those in Tanzania and Uganda, are pioneering domestic financing models to support school-based deworming.

“Even in the face of constrained funding, national programmes are showing remarkable agility,” said the ESPEN Team Lead. “This is a moment to double down on coordination, partner engagement, and smarter planning to ensure gains made are not reversed.”

The report calls for intensified technical coordination and a tailored approach to medicine shipments, as well as expanded collaboration with non-USAID funders and implementing partners. Many countries have already nominated focal points to facilitate ongoing engagement and align on next steps.

As countries brace for potential disruptions, the report serves as both a warning and a call to action: safeguarding momentum will require agile support, adaptive planning, and collective commitment from all stakeholders working to meet the 2030 NTD Road Map goals.