58 Countries Have Now Eliminated a Neglected Tropical Disease

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) — a group of conditions including trachoma, river blindness and sleeping sickness — cause blindness, disfigurement and disability for some of the world’s poorest communities. They are often invisible in global headlines, yet quiet, steady progress against them is one of the more hopeful stories in public health. Marking World NTD Day on 30 January 2026, the World Health Organization reported that 58 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD.

The broader trend is encouraging. The number of people requiring interventions against NTDs fell to about 1.4 billion in 2024, a 36% decrease since 2010. Country-level victories continue to accumulate: recent successes include Egypt, Fiji, Senegal, Burundi, Papua New Guinea and Mauritania eliminating trachoma, Kenya eliminating human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and Niger eliminating onchocerciasis (river blindness). Each elimination means a disease no longer poses a public-health threat in that country.

“They are often invisible in global headlines, yet quiet, steady progress against them is one of the more hopeful stories in public health.”

The economics make the case compelling. WHO notes that preventive chemotherapy — the mass distribution of safe, donated medicines — delivers an estimated $25 in economic benefits for every $1 invested, by keeping children in school and adults able to work. Under the rallying theme “Unite. Act. Eliminate,” the campaign is pushing toward the global target of 100 countries reaching elimination of at least one NTD by 2030.

WHO is also frank about the risks. Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that “deep cuts in official development assistance for global health, particularly for NTD programs, threaten to stall or reverse gains,” noting that NTD aid fell 41% between 2018 and 2023. Sustaining momentum will require renewed funding and political will. But with well over half the world’s nations having already eliminated at least one of these ancient diseases, the goal of freeing entire populations from them is moving steadily within reach.