This #WorldNTDDay, WHO verifies #Niger as the first country in the African Region to eliminate onchocerciasis.

I congratulate the government and dedicated health workers for their commitment to liberating its population from this blinding, stigmatizing illness that causes so much human suffering among the poorest.

Over the past 20 years, more than 50 countries have eliminated one or more neglected tropical disease, with support from WHO and dedicated programmes funded by generous donors.

We’re calling on all partners to Unite, Act, Eliminate -- because neglected tropical diseases still affect over 1 billion people, mostly in the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities.