Averting collapse: Reimagining the NTDs ecosystem through G20 health diplomacy and science innovation

Abstract

The recent termination of the U.S. Government's neglected topical diseases (NTD) mass treatment program, following similar cuts by the UK, threatens decades of progress. Without a strategic reset, NTDs may re-emerge, exacerbating poverty across Africa and beyond. We call for a broadened donor base and reframing NTD control as a shared global interest, especially as NTDs rise in G20 nations due to climate change and urbanization. This moment demands investment in sustainable tools, like NextGen vaccines and biologics, and greater leadership from G20 countries. While USAID's exit is a setback, opportunities arise for decolonizing global health and fostering new partnerships.