"2023 Milestone: Six Nations Triumph Over Neglected Diseases"
In 2023, six countries made significant progress in eliminating neglected tropical diseases, with Bangladesh successfully ending transmission of visceral leishmaniasis and tackling lymphatic filariasis, Laos eliminating elephantiasis, and Ghana overcoming sleeping sickness. Iraq, Benin, and Mali eradicated trachoma, a leading cause of preventable blindness. These achievements are part of a global health initiative led by the WHO to focus on diseases affecting the world's poorest populations. Despite these successes, challenges remain, such as maintaining funding and vigilance to prevent resurgence and developing cost-effective treatments like insecticide-infused paint to combat sandfly bites.