Bridging the last mile: The critical role of local civil society in advancing equity and inclusion for neglected tropical diseases

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating existing inequities in health, gender, and socioeconomic status. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a vital but often undervalued role in addressing these inequities by engaging with communities and fostering accountability of NTD programs and governments while ensuring transparency in their own operations and responsiveness to community needs. Drawing lessons from the HIV/AIDS and leprosy responses, this paper argues that CSOs are indispensable for sustainable and inclusive NTD programming. By positioning CSOs as champions of equity and community-centered approaches, the NTD community can ensure that interventions address the structural drivers of inequity and promote lasting change.