African health experts have renewed commitment to accelerate efforts to end Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that continue to affect over a billion people globally, 40% of whom live in the African region.

Meeting in Togo from 15 to 17 April 2025 for the NTD Programme Managers meeting, the experts also set in motion discussions and collaborations aimed at driving bold and more strategic approaches to end NTDs in Africa.  

The African region is home to twenty of the 21 recognized NTDs, including river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, and several skin diseases that disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalized communities. These diseases can cause severe disabilities, social stigma, and even death. Despite progress in recent years, all 47 countries in the WHO African Region remain endemic for at least one NTD, and 37 are battling five or more concurrently.