Your support can have an outsized impact this giving season. Help move us closer toward a world free from trachoma and parasitic worms, and continue the powerful momentum of this movement: support the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in ending these diseases through our matched giving campaign.

Few interventions in global health deliver as strong returns as investing in the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Every dollar invested in preventing and treating these diseases yields an estimated $25 in societal benefits. [1]

In 2025, historic progress toward creating a healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable world free from NTDs continued to accelerate. This year, six countries eliminated trachoma, while Niger became the first African nation to eliminate river blindness.

This giving season, you can help advance this momentum and make a profound, measurable difference with every dollar by supporting deworming and trachoma programming in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Together, for an average of 11 cents (USD) per person per year in the DRC, we can prevent blindness causing diseases and parasitic worms with a simple, annual treatment. And for under $100, a 15-20 minute surgery can save the sight of someone who would otherwise lose it. 

In a world free from these diseases, children could develop healthily, without missing school because of pain, malnutrition, or caring for sick relatives, or being impeded by stunted physical and cognitive growth – all due to preventable diseases. Every child would have increased opportunities to thrive, with a complete education unlocking numerous opportunities later in life. And every adult would be supported to fulfill their full potential free of disease, disability, and stigma, helping them to advance their family’s prospects.

Deworming interventions have been shown to decrease school absenteeism by 25% [1], while girls in receipt of treatment are also 25% more likely to continue their education into secondary school [2]. Adults in receipt of treatments have been shown to earn 13% more per hour [3], and work 17% more hours per week [2].

Without NTDs hindering opportunities and livelihoods, communities across the DRC can prosper, experiencing improvements in education, equity, productivity, and economic outcomes at scale. Eliminating these diseases can boost national economies by billions of dollars per year, helping to propel inclusive growth. [4]

This vision of a world like this is becoming closer to reality every day, and you can help ensure it’s soon realized.

The progress made to eliminate these diseases represents one of the most significant global health achievements of the 21^st century. In the last 23 years, there has been a 93% reduction in the number of people at risk for trachoma [5]. In the DRC, recent analysis demonstrated that more than 15 million people no longer require trachoma treatment. Meanwhile, the scaling up of schistosomiasis programs across Africa since the turn of the century has resulted in a 58% reduction of prevalence in school-age children [6].

You can end this year by helping to bring the end of these diseases even closer, and ensuring no one is left behind, by supporting the DRC’s deworming and trachoma programs. The END Fund’s 2025 match campaign, generously supported by the Jackson Kemper Foundation, means that every dollar donated this giving season will go further. 

With NTD treatment in the DRC costing on average 11 cents (USD) per person last year, every matched dollar can support 18 individuals with transformative treatments.

Join us this giving season and advance the elimination of these diseases with amplified impact.