Oluwadamilare Dauda, a final-year PhD scholar at Osun State University, received the Young Scientist Award from France’s National Veterinary School of Toulouse. This honor recognizes his cutting-edge research into blackfly transmission of onchocerciasis (river blindness). The award also enabled Dauda to deepen his expertise alongside global vector specialists during a summer program in Toulouse—highlighting the importance of international collaboration in infectious disease control.
Jul292025
RLMF strategic workshop with WHO ESPEN
WHO Afro’s Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) convened a strategic workshop with key partners from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund—including the Gates Foundation, CIFF, and the END Fund—to align on its 2026–2030 Strategic Framework. Partners played a pivotal role in shaping ESPEN’s six strategic pillars, endorsing its leadership in country support, access to medicines, data systems, and regional coordination. The meeting reinforced ESPEN’s central role in driving cost-effective, integrated approaches to NTD elimination and emphasized the urgent need to translate strategy into action. A joint plan was initiated to expand ESPEN’s support across more countries and domains, with a shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and equity.
Jul242025
Reaffirming commitment to child survival at Mozambique forum
The Immunization and Child Survival Forum in Maputo, Mozambique in July brought together leaders and partners committed to improving child health across Africa. While the continent continues to bear a disproportionate share of under-5 years child mortality, it is also where some of the most impactful and scalable solutions are taking shape.
NTDs remain a major contributor to poor child health—leading to disability, malnutrition, and missed educational opportunities. At the forum, a dedicated lunch hosted by RLMF highlighted the need to integrate NTD efforts into broader child survival strategies.
The event reaffirmed a strong, shared commitment to ensuring that every child, everywhere, has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.
Jul172025
Chad’s Ministry of Health, RLMF, and The Carter Center unite to deliver treatment to nearly 3 million
Chad’s Ministry of Health, with support from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund and implementation assistance from The Carter Center, distributed medicine to stop transmission of two neglected tropical diseases: river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, causes intense itching, skin discoloration, and eye disease that can lead to permanent blindness. Lymphatic filariasis causes severe swelling of limbs that—if untreated—becomes permanent and hardens the skin.
The four-day effort saw teams traveling from community to community to bring Mectizan, donated by Merck & Co. Inc., and albendazole, donated by GSK, to nearly 3 million people living in 29 districts across the country.
The successful mass drug administration reflects the shared ambition of Chad, RLMF, and The Carter Center to combat these devastating diseases, and it brings Chad one step closer to the ultimate goal: elimination.