The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) extends its warmest congratulations to the Government of Kenya for eliminating sleeping sickness as a public health problem. This makes Kenya the second country, after Rwanda, to eliminate the rhodesiense form of the disease as a public health problem.
This milestone reflects years of dedicated efforts by health workers, communities, researchers, and policymakers, and marks a significant step forward in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases.
‘Kenya’s elimination of sleeping sickness as a public health problem is a testament to what can be achieved through sustained public health action and innovative partnerships,’ said Professor Samuel Kariuki, Continental Lead for Africa and Eastern Africa Director at DNDi. ‘This achievement is a proud moment not only for Kenya but for the entire continent. It reflects the progress Africa is making toward combatting NTDs.’
Kenya’s victory demonstrates the critical role of continued innovation in sustaining public health gains. Advances in treatment, such as safer, oral therapies, and in diagnostic and vector surveillance tools have transformed the way sleeping sickness is managed, making it easier to detect and treat cases early. Expanding access to these tools will help ensure health systems remain equipped to prevent resurgence and maintain elimination.
DNDi is proud to have contributed to the transformation of sleeping sickness treatment in Africa. Our work has helped replace toxic, arsenic-based drugs with safe, effective, and easy-to-administer oral treatments. These innovations have simplified care and improved access for patients in countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia.
We remain committed to supporting countries across Africa in their efforts to eliminate sleeping sickness for good. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with governments, researchers, and communities to ensure that testing and treatment reaches everyone in need – including in the most remote and hard-to-reach settings.
About DNDi
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit medical research organization that discovers, develops, and delivers safe, effective, and affordable treatments for neglected people. DNDi is developing medicines for sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, river blindness, mycetoma, dengue, paediatric HIV, advanced HIV disease, cryptococcal meningitis, and hepatitis C. Its research priorities include children’s health, gender equity and gender-responsive R&D, and diseases impacted by climate change. Since its creation in 2003, DNDi has joined with public and private partners across the globe to deliver 13 new treatments, saving millions of lives. dndi.org
Photo credit: Lameck Ododo-DNDi
