Speak Up Africa’s GO BEYOND Brings New Voices Into The Fight To Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases
On the day of the 2025 World NTD, Africa is clamoring to answer the global call for “unity, action, elimination”, which goes beyond initiative. By mobilizing a diverse voice alliance, the fight against neglected tropical disease (NTD) is pushed into unknown territory. Bring artists and athletes to those who are with and affected by NTD, focusing on women and youth. Go beyond the goal of building community movements to encourage NTD to better prioritize NTD on the health agenda, investing in increasing and people-centered NTD solutions for more than 1 billion people around the world are affected by these preventable and treatable diseases The mainland has a 40% burden of disease.
NTD Day is a time to celebrate progress – by the end of 2024, at least one NTD has phased out at least one NTD, some of which eliminate multiple countries, highlighting the continent’s strong commitment to public health. Now the world has reached the target of WHO NTD Roadmap 2030 target 100 countries, and at least one NTD is eliminated by 2030.
This day is also an opportunity to address the challenges we face: strengthening the link between health systems, NTD and climate change, facing growing environmental changes and a lack of a people-centered and community-led approach.
Go beyond initiative to explore new opportunities to fight NTD by engaging in people and communities affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We leverage their valuable expertise and ensure solutions to real-world needs. We challenge and transcend traditional approaches to health advocacy by encouraging cross-sectoral collaboration, expanding community voices and promoting inclusive partnerships. These champions embody the power of diversity and set new standards for unity, action and elimination of the meaning of NTD.
“By going beyond, we are expanding the voices of African artists, athletes and community leaders to change how we fight neglected tropical diseases. By bringing these different perspectives to policy makers, we are building the need to eliminate NTD once and for all. political momentum and grassroots participation.”.
On World NTD Day, Beyond Initiative will bring together young leaders, musicians and artists from Senegal, Kenya and Ethiopia and connect with the community through the sporting power of Benin and Senegal. In partnership with the African League of Basketball (BAL), young people will learn how to prevent and address NTDs of their communities and opponents in their communities by participating in basketball games. The communities in Niger, Burkina Faso and Kenya will also host workshops and health screenings to raise awareness and improve the discovery of their communities.
Champions across Africa will support the elimination of NTD on the day of NTD by using their voices, platforms and expertise to ensure the sustainability, effectiveness and equity of the fight against NTD.
The time to move now is. We call on world leaders to demonstrate their commitment by embedding NTD phase-out targets into national health policies, allocating dedicated budget lines and integrating NTD programs into general health coverage programs.
Success requires coordinated responses – from governments increasing domestic funding to investing in private sector partners in innovative treatment delivery to donors who maintain their critical support. The economic cost of inaction far exceeds the price of elimination.
Together, we must go beyond traditional approaches and create new partnerships that make affected communities the hub for solutions. This World NTD Day, join us to build a future of tropical diseases that are no longer overlooked.
About Africa
Say Africa is a Senegalese organization dedicated to the establishment of an Africa, in which African citizens are driven by their own citizens. We unite, inspire and advocate. We are committed to strategic communication, policy and advocacy, and we are committed to helping African leaders and citizens actively participate in identifying and developing solutions to address malaria, such as malaria, neglected tropical diseases, vaccination, health, gender equality, gender equality , Gender Equality, Gender Equality, major challenges such as malaria, and global health research and development.
