Press Release: Speak Up Africa's "Going Further" Campaign Brings New Voices to the Fight to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) -

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Dakar, Senegal – On World NTD Day, Speak Up Africa responds to the global call to “Unite, Act, Eliminate” with its GOING FURTHER initiative. This initiative pushes the boundaries of the fight against NTDs by mobilizing a diverse coalition of voices. The “Going Further” campaign engages a wide range of actors – artists, athletes, and people affected by NTDs – with particular attention to women and youth. It aims to build a community movement with three main objectives: making NTDs a priority on the health agenda, increasing investments, and developing people-centered and community-focused solutions. This initiative is crucial as more than one billion people worldwide are affected by these preventable and treatable diseases, with the African continent alone bearing 40% of this burden.

World NTD Day is an opportunity to celebrate progress: twenty-two African nations have already eliminated at least one NTD, and several have eliminated more than one, demonstrating the continent’s strong commitment to public health. The world is now halfway to the WHO’s 2030 NTD roadmap goal of eliminating at least one NTD in 100 countries by 2030.

This day is also an opportunity to address upcoming challenges: strengthening health systems, addressing the link between NTDs and climate change in a world facing increasing environmental changes, and the lack of person-centered and community-led approaches.

The GOING FURTHER initiative explores new opportunities in the fight against NTDs by involving people and communities affected by neglected tropical diseases. We leverage their invaluable expertise and ensure solutions are adapted to real needs. We challenge and go beyond traditional health advocacy approaches by encouraging cross-sector collaboration, amplifying community voices, and fostering inclusive partnerships. These champions illustrate the power of diversity, setting a new standard for what it means to unite, act, and eliminate NTDs.

“Through GOING FURTHER, we amplify the voices of artists, athletes, and community leaders across Africa to transform how we fight neglected tropical diseases. By bringing these diverse perspectives to decision-makers, we create the political momentum and community engagement needed to eliminate NTDs for good,” says Yacine Djibo, Executive Director and Founder of Speak Up Africa.

For World NTD Day, the GOING FURTHER initiative will bring together young leaders, musicians, and artists across Senegal, Kenya, and Ethiopia and connect communities through the power of sport in Benin and Senegal. In partnership with the Basketball Africa League (BAL), young people will learn how to prevent and fight NTDs in their communities and their opponents on the court by participating in a basketball game. In Niger, Burkina Faso, and Kenya, communities will also organize workshops and screenings to raise awareness and improve detection in their communities.

Champions across Africa will unite to support the elimination of NTDs on this World NTD Day by using their voices, platforms, and expertise to ensure sustainability, effectiveness, and equity in the fight against NTDs.

The time for action is now. We call on global leaders to demonstrate their commitment by integrating NTD elimination goals into national health policies, allocating dedicated budget lines, and incorporating NTD programs into universal health coverage plans.

Our collective success relies on coordinated action at all levels: governments must strengthen their domestic financing, the private sector must invest in innovative treatment distribution solutions, and financial partners must maintain their vital support. Because doing nothing will cost far more than acting to eliminate these diseases.

Together, we must go further than traditional approaches and forge new partnerships that place affected communities at the center of solutions. On this World NTD Day, join us in building a future where tropical diseases are no longer neglected.

Speak Up Africa