This is according to a statement released Tuesday marking the third anniversary of the Kigali Declaration on NTDs.
Since its launch in 2022 by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the declaration has grown from 57 initial endorsers to 84 countries and organisations, reflecting a surge in international commitment to combat diseases that continue to afflict over one billion people worldwide, primarily in the poorest and most vulnerable communities.
'We can confidently say this is not where we started, and that's worth celebrating. Every decision by a country to endorse the Kigali Declaration represents a step toward eliminating diseases that continue to devastate lives," said Dr.Isatou Touray, Executive Director of Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases.
"What we need now is concrete, sustained commitment to go further and faster. That's exactly what it will take to reach the goal of eliminating NTDs by 2030."
The Kigali Declaration has attracted support from across sectors, including strong backing from the pharmaceutical industry. Merck recently delivered its five billionth dose of Mectizan, GSK has distributed 12 billion doses of albendazole, and Novartis has nearly doubled its investment in research and development for NTD treatments. Earlier this year, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) announced a €46 million fund to support NTD research.
Despite the achievements, the statement warned of growing threats to progress due to sharp cuts in official development assistance (ODA), particularly from major donors such as the United States. Without urgent action, more than a million donated medicines could expire in the next nine months, putting millions at risk of going untreated.
To help track progress and maintain accountability, the Kigali Declaration Commitment Tracker, considered the world's only publicly accessible NTD financing tracker, remains a key tool for governments and stakeholders.
The statement also highlighted recent success stories: at the 2025 World Health Assembly, Mauritania and Papua New Guinea were recognised for eliminating trachoma, bringing the total number of countries that have eliminated at least one NTD to 56.
As the declaration marks three years, health advocates are calling for renewed financing and policy action to preserve gains and push toward the 2030 target of ending NTDs globally.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
