Fifty-five-year-old Ali Muhamed from Kenya’s Lamu County has been reliant on others since the age of 15 when his life was completely changed by elephantiasis. Initially, he fell ill with what appeared to be a high fever accompanied by groin pain but he explained, “after two months, my legs started to swell. I couldn’t work on my father’s fishing boat or tend to our land anymore. I had to depend on others for survival.”
Since then, Kenya has made remarkable strides toward eliminating elephantiasis along with other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). At least 25 million Kenyans are affected by an NDT, with the country actively addressing 12 of 20 WHO-recognized NTDs.
However, of those 12, according to the Ministry of Health, Kenya is set to completely eradicate elephantiasis, sleeping sickness, and river blindness by 2026.
During a webinar hosted by The End Fund, Dr. Wycliff Omondi, Head of the Division for Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry of Health, revealed that Kenya is approaching a major milestone by being declared free of Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
“We have already presented the dossier to the World Health Organization, and it was returned with minimal corrections. In a few months, we will be declared free of the disease,” Dr. Omondi shared.
In addition, the country is nearing the elimination of lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, after two decades of targeted interventions achieved through mass drug administration.
Professor Njeri Wamae, a leading expert on tropical diseases, explains that “elephantiasis occurs when mosquitoes infected with the filarial worm transmit the parasite, which obstructs lymphatic drainage, causing severe swelling”.
“The surveys we’ve conducted show a tremendous reduction in lymphatic filariasis to levels below public health significance. While we can confidently say the disease is no longer a major threat, official certification is required to formalize this achievement,” explained Dr. Omondi.
Community-led initiatives are now prioritizing access to care for all existing patients, ensuring that those affected by elephantiasis receive the treatment and support they need, as highlighted by The End Fund.
Regarding river blindness, Dr. Omondi expressed optimism that in the next two years, the Ministry of Health expects the country to be officially declared free of the disease, stating that the government has put appropriate interventions in place.
NTDs burden on individuals and communities
Beyond physical suffering, NTDs impose a heavy economic and social burden. Dr. Omondi points out that these diseases lead to widespread unproductivity which affects both families and the national economy.
See also: Neglected tropical diseases and their impact on societies and international development
Furthermore, NTDs contribute to disabilities, malnutrition, cognitive impairments, stigma, and even death, thus creating a cycle of poverty and illness in those regions affected, he explained.
A bold five-year plan to eradicate NTDs
In January 2024, Kenya launched the Kenya National Master Plan for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) 2023–2027 which aims to eliminate six NTDs. This ambitious five-year strategy aligns with the WHO global roadmap to eliminate NTDs by 2030.
The six targeted high-burden diseases include trachoma, intestinal worms, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis.
Unlike previous plans, this new approach adopts a more cohesive model that aims to streamline resource use and reduce redundancy in efforts over the next five years.
Building on the achievements of the 2016-2022 plan, which led to the successful eradication of guinea worm in 2018 and disrupted the transmission of Human African Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis, the current strategy focuses on strengthening these gains while tackling the remaining challenges.
