The nations commit to eliminate deadly neglected disease visceral leishmaniasis. Photo courtesy
In a significant step towards eliminating one of the world’s deadliest parasitic diseases, six African countries, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar.
The signing took place during a high-level event convened by the African Union and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The six signatories were joined by health leaders from Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania, who called for stronger cross-border collaboration to address other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) across the continent.
Kala-azar is the second-deadliest parasitic disease after malaria. It causes prolonged fever, fatigue, weight loss, and swelling of the spleen and liver.
If untreated, it is fatal. More than 70% of the global burden falls on Eastern Africa, with children under 15 making up half of all cases.
NTDs affect over 1 billion people annually, disproportionately impacting poor and marginalized communities. Despite this, progress is being made.
As of May 2025, 56 countries have eliminated at least one NTD. Togo has eliminated four, while Benin, Ghana, and India have each eliminated three.
In 2024 and 2025, Mauritania, Chad, Guinea, and Niger joined this group, having eliminated at least one NTD.
Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of WHO’s Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, highlighted the importance of country-led efforts and regional cooperation.
“As the global community reaches the halfway point toward roadmap targets and nearly one year after launching the visceral leishmaniasis elimination framework, the role of cross-border collaboration cannot be overstated,” he said in his opening remarks.
The MoU commits the six countries to mobilize resources, implement regional strategies, and work closely to meet the goals outlined in the Eastern Africa Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination Framework, launched in June 2024.
Health ministers from Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria issued a joint Call for Action during the event, urging African nations to unite in the fight against all NTDs.
“We know that diseases do not stop at borders — and neither should our response. More than 600 million people on our continent remain at risk of at least one of the neglected tropical diseases,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, in a statement delivered by Dr Landry Tsague Dongmo, Director of Africa CDC’s Center for Primary Health Care.
Dr Dongmo emphasized the importance of strengthening surveillance systems through the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework, in partnership with the WHO.
Many NTDs are spread by animals and exacerbated by climate change and human movement. Experts at the event stressed that regional cooperation is vital in addressing these interconnected threats.
The Call for Action urges countries to share information, coordinate health responses, and implement region-specific policies together.
“Visceral leishmaniasis patients and their communities urgently need new, improved oral treatments. To reach elimination, we need more medical innovation,” said Dr Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
He pointed to recent successes in South Asia, such as Bangladesh’s elimination of kala-azar, as proof that global eradication is possible.
“I commend the inspiring leadership, unity, and commitment shown today by our African partners,” he added.
The Geneva event was spearheaded by the African Union Commission, the WHO, and the Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), with support from the END Fund and DNDi.
About DNDi
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit medical research organization that develops affordable, safe, and effective treatments for neglected populations.
DNDi is focused on treatments for diseases such as sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, river blindness, mycetoma, dengue, paediatric HIV, cryptococcal meningitis, and hepatitis C.
Its research also addresses children’s health, gender equity in R&D, and diseases worsened by climate change.
Since its founding in 2003, DNDi has delivered 12 new treatments for six deadly diseases, working with public and private partners around the world.
More: dndi.org
