AHDA Statement on World NTD Day 2026

On this World NTD Day, Amplify Health and Development in Africa (AHDA) reaffirms that ending Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) requires united action across communities, government, civil society, and the private sector with community engagement at the centre.

Why we must UNITE, ACT, and ELIMINATE

NTDs persist where poverty, limited services, and stigma intersect. A technical solution is never enough on its own; we need trusted relationships, locally owned responses, and coordinated systems that reach the last mile.

• UNITE: Align community leaders, youth, CHWs, facilities, and partners around shared goals and roles.
• ACT: Deliver proven interventions with quality MDA, case-finding, referrals, WASH and behaviour change, informed by community feedback.
• ELIMINATE: Sustain gains through accountability, local ownership, and data-driven improvement until transmission is interrupted and stigma is reduced.

Community engagement is essential for NTD elimination

When communities lead, prevention becomes stronger, treatment is trusted, and stigma reduces. In practice, community engagement means shared decision-making, not one-way messaging.

• Co-creating messages with local leaders, women's groups, youth champions, and CHWs.
• Holding community dialogues that surface barriers (stigma, access, beliefs) and agree on local solutions.
• Using feedback loops (community scorecards, simple dashboards, WhatsApp channels, local radio) to improve service quality.
• Reaching vulnerable and underserved households with tailored, respectful approaches.

AHDA's commitment through RESILIENT 2030

Through our RESILIENT 2030 strategy, AHDA is stepping up action for NTD elimination by combining evidence generation, meaningful community engagement, and impactful advocacy and storytelling with youth at the centre.

What we will prioritise in 2026 and beyond

• Step up implementation: Support integrated community platforms that strengthen prevention, early identification, referrals, and follow-up for NTDs.
• Generate evidence: Work with partners to conduct implementation research and package evidence that improves programme quality and reach.
• Meaningful community engagement: Use community dialogues and existing engagement mechanisms to co-create solutions and address stigma.
• Youth-centred digital action: Use digital platforms to amplify youth voices, strengthen health literacy, and accelerate local mobilisation.
• Impactful advocacy and storytelling: Influence decisions and investments using targeted convening, communication, and accountability tools.

Unlocking financing to finish the job

Sustained elimination requires predictable resources. AHDA will advocate for stronger domestic financing and innovative, non-traditional financing to close NTD gaps, while protecting equity and last-mile delivery.

• Increased domestic financing for NTD programmes within national and local budgets.
• Private-sector partnerships and catalytic funding for last-mile delivery, community engagement, and behaviour change.
• Smarter financing, outcome-based approaches, CSR-aligned contributions, and blended finance where appropriate.
• Integration efficiencies: combining NTD work with primary health care, WASH, and community systems strengthening.

Call to action

On this World NTD Day, AHDA calls on partners to:

• UNITE with communities and frontline workers to co-design and deliver trusted solutions.
• ACT on proven interventions and close implementation gaps in the last mile.
• ELIMINATE stigma by centring dignity, inclusion, and community voice.
• INVEST sustainably by increasing domestic financing and unlocking innovative resources for NTD elimination.