In a landmark move to combat one of the world’s deadliest yet most overlooked tropical diseases, six African nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar.
The agreement, endorsed by Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, was formalized on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The ceremony was convened by the African Union and the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant step toward regional cooperation in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Kala-azar is a parasitic disease that, if left untreated, leads to prolonged fever, weight loss, fatigue, organ damage, and often death. It is second only to malaria in terms of fatality among parasitic infections. Eastern Africa bears the brunt of the disease, accounting for over 70% of the global burden, with children under 15 particularly vulnerable.
“As the global community reaches the half-way point towards the roadmap targets and nearly a year after the launch of our strategic elimination framework, the role of country-led action and regional collaboration is more critical than ever,” said Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme.
The MoU will foster joint resource investment, regional health strategies, and enhanced cross-border collaboration to implement the visceral leishmaniasis elimination framework launched in June 2024.
During the Geneva event, Ministers of Health from Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria issued a broader ‘Call for Action’ to eliminate all NTDs, which affect more than 600 million people in Africa. “Diseases do not stop at borders, and neither should our response,” stated Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, in a message read by Dr Landry Tsague Dongmo.
NTDs, often spread by insects or animals, are exacerbated by climate change and human migration. Experts emphasized the importance of collaborative surveillance, data-sharing, and locally tailored health policies in tackling these interconnected threats.
WHO highlighted that 56 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD. In Africa, recent achievements include the successful elimination of at least one NTD by Mauritania, Chad, Guinea, and Niger between 2024 and 2025.
“Patients urgently need new oral treatments to combat visceral leishmaniasis,” noted Dr Luis Pizarro, Executive Director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). “The commitment shown today by African leaders is inspiring and signals that, like South Asia’s success, global elimination of this deadly disease is within reach.”
Written By Rodney Mbua
