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Published: 29 June 2021

In February 2020, Malawi achieved a huge milestone by eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis, one of the major NTDs that was affecting the country. Following on this huge success and with the support of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, a meeting was organised with programme managers and keys stakeholders from 7 to 11 June 2021 in Salima to review the NTDs scorecard indicators and align the scorecard with the current priorities including the ongoing work to finalise the new NTDs Master Plan (2021-2025).

The NTDs scorecard in Malawi has increased country ownership and accountability for results. It has contributed to the increased coordination within different NTDs programmes. It has been used to identify programme gaps and hence propose solutions. The scorecard analysis led to actions such as ordering adequate quantities of deworming medicines based on the targeted population, and the country is working to ensure that all targeted populations for Mass Drug Administration are reached.

NTDs continue to afflict the communities of the poorest and most marginalized in Africa, and those with limited access to health care, education and other resources. Women and children are disproportionately affected by these devastating diseases; women are often stigmatized as a result of the deforming manifestations of NTDs, and the children, who are often infected in the early years of childhood, are likely to suffer the consequences of NTDs on their development, in terms of a decrease in their quality of life and productivity in adulthood. For many of these diseases, simple and affordable solutions exist to stop the suffering. However millions of people who require treatment for NTDs remain untreated, individuals requiring simple, yet life changing surgery, continue to suffer in pain. Children continue to be condemned to a life of misery.