CBM has supported the fight against NTDs for over 30 years and is proud of its partnership with national governments, donors (The END Fund, Sightsavers, The Carter Center, Izumi Foundation, Mectizan Donation Programme, Fondation Assistance Internationale and Waldesian church, otto per mille funds) and local organisations to alleviate suffering from NTDs in Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Sudan.
Unite:
CBM’s partnerships demonstrate the power of collective action. In Nigeria, together with other partners, we supported the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in delivering 18.4 million doses of medicines in 2023, protecting over 12.7 million people from NTDs across eight states. By training nearly 20,000 health volunteers and conducting hydrocele and lymphoedema surgeries, this collaborative effort ensured that the benefits of NTD interventions reached underserved communities.
In DRC, we supported the NTD programme’s cross-border collaboration with Uganda – another example of unity in action. Through partnerships with The Carter Center and local governments, CBM supported an onchocerciasis initiative that interrupted disease transmission in Uganda’s Lhubiriha River region—a major milestone in regional disease control.
Act:
In Unity State, South Sudan, where conflict and climate challenges disrupt health services, CBM, with funding from Accelerate Resilient, Innovative, and Sustainable Elimination of NTDs ARISE (through The END Fund) supported mobile health teams to deliver trachoma medicines and surgeries to over 840,000 people in hard-to-reach areas.
In Ethiopia, communities are taking ownership of their health through Community-Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene (CLTSH) programmes. By constructing 47,520 latrines and declaring 105 communities Open Defecation Free (ODF), CBM supports efforts to strengthen hygiene practices critical to breaking the transmission cycle of diseases like trachoma.
Eliminate:
The elimination of NTDs is within reach, and CBM is proud to contribute to global progress. In Pakistan, we marked a historic milestone in 2024 by supporting the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. This achievement reflects two decades of implementing the SAFE strategy, building WASH infrastructure, and fostering sustainable health systems in partnership with the Ministry of Health, WHO, and other key stakeholders such as Sightsavers, and the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Globally, 54 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD. CBM remains committed to accelerating this progress. By integrating NTD services into primary health systems and strengthening community-led approaches, we ensure these victories are sustainable and inclusive.
On this World NTD Day, we renew our pledge to unite, act, and eliminate preventable NTDs. Together, we can create a world where no one suffers from preventable NTDs, communities thrive, and health and opportunity are accessible to all.
Girija Sankar,
Head of NTDs and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting at CBM.
