Mectizan Donation Program

Why NTDs are a prime investment for philanthropy Why NTDs are a prime investment for philanthropy

With the elimination of more NTDs within reach and the potential for gains across the broader health system, Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity’s Tala al Ramahi explains why philanthropic foundations should be investing in NTDs.

Reaching the unreachable: accelerating onchocerciasis elimination in Yemen 04 February 2026, Aden, Yemen – In Yemen’s remote high-altitude valleys, communities have lived for generations with sowda, a severe form of onchocerciasis (commonly known as “river blindness”), that ...

@whowpro.bsky.social WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region:
Accelerating river blindness elimination in Yemen
➡️ "Despite the difficult terrain and insecurity, the adapted approach achieved full geographical access..."

#BeatNTDs #StampOutOncho

www.emro.who.int/yemen/news/r...

Merck remembers Dr. William Foege, Architect of Early Mectizan® Delivery Efforts - Merck.com RAHWAY, N.J., Feb. 3, 2025 –Dr. William (Bill) Foege, who passed away on January 24, 2026, was a visionary in disease eradication and a global health champion. Dr. Foege was instrumental in the early ...

Merck remembers Dr. William Foege, the first chair of the Mectizan Expert Committee

This powerful @nytimes.com story by @stephanienolen.bsky.social features @taskforce.bsky.social
Director Dr. Pat Lammie's perspective on the future of NTD elimination. Read why partnerships and sustained investment are critical to preserving the gains we've made. #beatNTDs nyti.ms/4tvF4TE

Two women sitting on a bench outside a home. One of the women is holding a dose pole. They are talking with another woman and three children. The text reads Mobilizing local power for global change

#WorldNTDDay 🌍 Local power leads to global change. Community drug distributors work hard to ensure everyone in their communities is reached to achieve the high treatment coverage necessary to eliminate river blindness & lymphatic filariasis #StampOutOncho #EliminateLF #beatNTDs

Visualizing Neglect - The END Fund NTDs threaten 1.5 billion people globally. Explore 20 years of data on 6 neglected tropical diseases across 31 countries—and the progress toward elimination.

On World NTD Day, we celebrate the quiet, historic progress made against neglected tropical diseases. To learn more, check out this data visualization from @TheENDFund about the neglect that has produced a profound modern public health crisis.
https://endfund.org/visualizing-neglect/

A group of people standing outdoors hold up their dose poles while cheering. The text reads Turning milestones into momentum

#WorldNTDDay🌍 River blindness & lymphatic filariasis cause immense suffering for millions, but elimination is possible with sustained treatment. In 2025 🇳🇪Niger became the 1st country in Africa to eliminate river blindness, an incredible milestone offering hope to other countries working to #beatNTDs

Two men sit in chairs on a stage. One is talking while the other listens while an audience watches. Text on the photo reads Uniting partners to reach common goals. Photo by Michel Campfens

#WorldNTDDay 🌍 In 2025 we marked 5 billion Mectizan treatments donated…and counting. This progress against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis is only achievable thanks to the steadfast support of our partners. Together we will #StampOutOncho #EliminateLF #beatNTDs

@who.int : 🇳🇵Nepal is accelerating its drive to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem by 2030 #eliminateLF #beatNTDs www.who.int/nepal/news/d...

Remembering Dr. William H. Foege – Mectizan Donation Program Remembering Dr. Bill Foege 1936-2026 The Mectizan Donation Program joins the global health community in mourning the loss of Dr. William (Bill) Foege, who passed away on January 24, 2026. Following th...

Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Bill Foege, first chair of the Mectizan Expert Committee and legendary global health leader. His vision led the Mectizan Donation Program to a reality now reaching millions of people. #StampOutOncho #EliminateLF #beatNTDs
Learn more:
https://bit.ly/4q49tp8

Odisha gears up for MDA to eliminate lymphatic filariasis - OrissaPOST Bhubaneswar: In a major push to meet the national target of eliminating lymphatic filariasis by 2027, the state government will conduct a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme from February 10 to 1...

🇮🇳 Odisha gears up for MDA to eliminate lymphatic filariasis #beatNTDs #EliminateLF www.orissapost.com/odisha-gears...

CAMPAIGN AGAINST ELEPHANTIASIS A SUCCESS IN EAST NEW BRITAIN PROVINCE — EMTV ONLINE By Wasita Royal

🇵🇬In Papua New Guinea, a campaign against lymphatic filariasis in East New Britain is being hailed as a success. @whowpro.bsky.social #BeatNTDs #EliminateLF

emtv.com.pg?p=242393

Maldives became the first country to achieve “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Burundi, Egypt and Fiji eliminated trachoma. Guinea and Kenya eliminated sleeping sickness. Niger became the first African country to eliminate river blindness. Georgia, Suriname and Timor-Leste were certified malaria-free. 🥳 Brazil eliminated mother-to-child transmission of #HIV.

✅ 2025: Victories for disease control! The world scored major victories for disease control and elimination.

🥳 Maldives became the first country to achieve “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.

🥳 Burundi, Egypt and Fiji eliminated trachoma.

Stronger together - milestones that mattered in 2025 Each year WHO takes stock of key moments in health and science over the past 12 months. Here is our review of a 2025 marked by immense achievements and profound challenges for global health.

🥳 Guinea and Kenya eliminated sleeping sickness.

🥳 Niger became the first African country to eliminate river blindness.

🥳 Georgia, Suriname and Timor-Leste were certified malaria-free.

🥳 Brazil eliminated mother-to-child transmission of #HIV.

🔗 bit.ly/49wdcpl

WHO and The Carter Center Join Forces to Accelerate the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Madagascar The World Health Organization (WHO) and The Carter Center have signed a partnership agreement to collaborate on assistance to the Ministry of Health of Madagascar to further its efforts to reach elimi...

🇲🇬Good news regarding the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Madagascar. #beatNTDs #EliminateLF
@who.int
@cartercenter.bsky.social
www.cartercenter.org/news/who-and...

#ICYMI @npr.org shares the incredible progress Mali has made in fighting neglected tropical diseases — but now it is at risk due to US gov. funding cuts.

This work is important and why our work was selected for the @kristofimpact.bsky.social's #HolidayImpactPrize. 💜

Read more: vist.ly/4i5cj

We are proud to announce that Helen Keller Intl has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 #HolidayImpactPrize by @kristofimpact.bsky.social. 🎉

Join us in celebrating this milestone and be part of the movement → www.helenkellerintl.org/KristofImpact (1/4)

Fighting filariasis: India's grassroots approach to eliminating elephantiasis Fighting filariasis: India's grassroots approach to eliminating elephantiasis

Despite carrying 40% of the global burden, India’s community-first approach, coupled with strong government coordination, is spurring progress toward a country free of lymphatic filariasis.

Tanzania records gains in NTD prevention Mass drug administration and community-led programmes have reduced infections of lymphatic filariasis, trachoma and onchocerciasis by more than 75%.

🇹🇿 "Clarer Mwansasu, NTD control programme manager in the Ministry of Health, said that by the end of 2024 Tanzania had reduced the number of people requiring anti-parasitic chemotherapy for NTDs by 76%." #beatNTDs @sightsavers.bsky.social @uniting.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d44...

Together we will #beatNTDs #EliminateLF #StampOutOncho

In Merck’s press release, CEO Robert Davis comments:
“By extending our commitment, we aim to ensure that national LF elimination programs in endemic countries continue to have reliable access to the treatments needed to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen health systems."

Merck will continue to donate up to 100 million Mectizan treatments annually through 2030 for co-administration with albendazole (donated by @GSK) and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) through the WHO’s recommended triple drug therapy strategy.

Merck Commemorates 5 Billion Mectizan® Treatments Donated Over 38 Years - Merck.com Extension of Mectizan Donation for Triple Therapy Advances Fight Against Lymphatic Filariasis Through 2030 RAHWAY, N.J., November 17, 2025 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United State...

The Mectizan Donation Program is pleased to share Merck's announcement that the donation of Mectizan to accelerate the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) will be extended through 2030 in alignment with the @who.int Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030 Road Map.
www.merck.com/news/merck-c...

Five Billion Mectizan Treatments - The Power of Partnership This year we are celebrating 5 billion Mectizan treatments donated for countries fighting river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. The 1987 donation of Mectizan…

Celebrating 5️⃣ billion Mectizan treatments donated donated to fight river blindness & lymphatic filariasis. The 1987 donation by Merck sparked one of global health's most successful public-private partnerships. #beatNTDs #StampOutOncho #EliminateLF ⬇️ https://vimeo.com/1133144791?fl=pl&fe=sh

How Budgets Help Save Lives: Lessons from Nigeria’s Fight Against River Blindness River blindness, with its black flies, larvae and worms, is one of those "I don’t really want to think about it" diseases. I get that, but stick with me for a minute.

Food for thought from @unicef.org , a partner in the campaign against river blindness in Nigeria. #StampOutOncho #beatNTDs

www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-bu...

María Rebollo, experta en enfermedades tropicales desatendidas: “La prioridad sería que los gobiernos africanos las incluyan en sus agendas de salud” La experta de la OMS en estas dolencias reclama advierte del “riesgo enorme” de no lograr los objetivos marcados para 2030 debido a los recortes de financiación

#GONE 's Dr. Maria Rebollo on NTDs in El País: “The priority should be for African governments to include them in their health agendas.” #beatNTDs #ceroETDs elpais.com/planeta-futu...

Two women in Togo smile at the camera while holding a dose pole used for mass drug administration. The text reads Celebrating 38 years 1987-2025 and there is a logo for Mectizan Donation Program and Task Force for Global Health

We're 38! In 1987 Merck & Co., Inc. announced the historic donation of Mectizan to end river blindness (LF was added in 1998). Today more than 5 billion treatments have been donated…and counting. Millions of people are no longer at risk. #StampOutOncho #EliminateLF #beatNTDs 📸 Julio Johnson

Five Billion Mectizan Treatments - The Role of WHO This year we’re celebrating 5 billion Mectizan treatments donated for countries fighting river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.  For decades, the…

We’re celebrating 5️⃣ billion Mectizan treatments donated to end river blindness & lymphatic filariasis. @who.int plays a key role by providing leadership, coordinating partners, and providing technical guidance to endemic countries. ⬇️ Learn more #beatNTDs @afro.who.int https://vimeo.com/1125987117

Chart showing Proportion of endemic implementation units that no longer require MDA, pending impact surveysb and remaining IUs still requiring MDA and their population in millions, 2024

Now available 📝World Health Organization (WHO) Weekly Epidemiological Record: Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: progress report, 2024 #beatNTDs #EliminateLF www.who.int/publications...

7m children to get measles-rubella, polio vaccines in Kano as govt intensifies campaign nationwide Kano State will on October 6 begin a major vaccination campaign targeting more than seven million children with measles-rubella and polio vaccines. Dr.

Good news from Nigeria➡️ a massive campaign to vaccinate and #beatNTDs at the same time. “The reason for this integration is to increase efficiency, save costs, reduce the burden of numerous campaigns on the public...this approach allows us to deliver everything at once.” dailypost.ng/2025/09/30/7...