Amref Health Africa leads Kenya’s fight to control and eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including Lymphatic Filariasis (hydroceles and lymphoedema), Schistosomiasis (bilharzia), Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (intestinal worms), Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar), and Trachoma. Targeting the most vulnerable, we partner with the national and county governments to build integrated health programmes that create sustainable and lasting change.
Endemic sub-counties for Lymphatic Filariasis no longer require mass treatment.
Our strategy, aligned with WHO NTD Roadmap (2021–2030), Kenya NTDs Masterplan (2023-2027), WHO East Africa VL Elimination Framework (2023-2030), Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Agenda, Amref’s 2023–2030 Strategy, and Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5, 6, 13, is built on three pillars:
NPELF aims to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in Kenya’s six coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, Tana River, Taita Taveta, and Lamu by 2030. Its dual-pillar strategy, combining morbidity management and disability prevention with surveillance, integrated community-led mass drug administration and patient care within primary health services. This creates a sustainable model within the national health system.
The Deworming Innovation Fund (DIF) is a systems-focused initiative in Western Kenya’s four counties of Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Trans-Nzoia, designed to permanently interrupt the transmission of intestinal worms by 2027. It moves beyond short-term mass drug campaigns by integrating deworming into routine primary healthcare, strengthening WASH collaboration, and using precision mapping. This creates a sustainable, country-led, replicable model for sustainable elimination.
The Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Practical and Precision Assessment (SPPA) is a comprehensive national assessment that covers 32 schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis-endemic counties in Kenya. The SPPA advances precision public health by mapping disease burden with high geographic resolution, delineating transmission hotspots to enable targeted intervention and optimize resource allocation. This refined, data-driven methodology also provides practical guidance to the WHO on efficient mapping approaches, supporting Kenya’s transition from mass drug administration to precision-based elimination.
The National Program to Eliminate Visceral Leishmaniasis accelerates elimination in Kenya by targeting 5 million at-risk people across 12 endemic counties of Baringo, Kajiado, Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot, Isiolo, Kitui, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, and Tharaka-Nithi. Its multi-faceted approach ensures rapid case detection, comprehensive patient care, and a strengthened supply chain to combat outbreaks driven by climate and mobility.
The Kenya Trachoma Elimination Programme (KTEP) is accelerating the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem by 2027, targeting 9 million people across 14 historically endemic counties, including Laikipia, Kajiado, and Samburu. Its integrated strategy combines community-wide antibiotic campaigns with sustained primary health service delivery for trichiasis surgery and robust multi-sectoral WASH interventions. This creates a county-owned, resilient model to permanently interrupt transmission within strengthened health systems.
Eliminating NTDs requires multisectoral collaboration. Partner with us to strengthen primary healthcare systems and ensure equitable access to health services, helping to combat neglected tropical diseases.
Ministry of Health (MoH), Kenya National Public Health Institute (NPHI), County Governments, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), University of Nairobi, World Health Organization (WHO), The END Fund, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Amref Austria, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Insupply Health, FIND, Global Program For the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF), NNN (Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network), WASH Alliance Kenya (WAK), African Institute for Health and Development (AIHD), Sightsavers International.
