Over 200 Million People in Francophone Countries Confronted by Neglected Tropical Diseases

A new report, 'Advancing the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Francophone Countries: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward for Sustainable Action,' was released today. It assesses the collective burden and progress of fighting NTDs in Francophone countries.

Published on October 3, 2024, the report highlights the unique opportunities within the Francophonie to leverage linguistic, cultural, and historical ties for collective action and cross-border collaboration to combat NTDs more effectively.

NTDs are a group of preventable and treatable illnesses caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins, and include Chagas, Chikungunya, Dengue, and Oropouche virus diseases.

Of the more than 1.6 billion people worldwide at risk of NTDs, a significant percentage reside in Francophone countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

French is an official language in 32 independent nations and 60 countries and territories where about 210 million people live. It is also a co-official or de facto language in many regions and organizations.