The 16th Annual Neglected Tropical Diseases (NNN) Conference will take place from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October 2025, hosted by the Ministry of Health, Uganda, in Kampala and virtually. The conference will bring together NTD practitioners, government officials, community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from more than 50 countries to deliberate on challenges and solutions in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

This year’s theme, “Sustainable Innovations for Impact – Transforming the Fight Against NTDs,” highlights the importance of sustainability, innovation, and impact to ensure that technological advances and new strategies lead to long-term success in eliminating NTDs. The theme aligns strongly with the WHO NTD Road Map and global efforts to embed sustainability across programs.

The conference will feature rich discussions and case studies across six subthemes:

• AI and Digital Health in NTD Management – Enhancing efficiency and scalability through data-driven approaches.

• Community-Driven Innovations – Leveraging local knowledge to co-create solutions.

• One Health Approaches to NTDs – Integrating human, animal, and environmental health.

• Strengthening Health Systems for NTD Elimination – Embedding NTD programs into national frameworks.

• Climate Change and NTDs – Addressing environmental drivers of disease transmission.

• Sustainable Financing and Investment in NTD Programs – Mobilizing resources for long-term impact.

Registration is open for both in-person and virtual delegates. More details, including the full program, will be available on the official NNN Conference website.

From 09 to 13 October 2025, the entire NLR Nepal team will gather in Pokhara for the organization’s annual review and retreat. This important event will provide space for reflection, planning, and team building, while strengthening our collective vision of Driving Innovation for Health Equity and Inclusion.

The retreat will be followed by a two-day training workshop on report writing and scientific writing, aimed at enhancing staff capacity to document achievements, share research findings, and contribute to global learning. All staff members, including Research Assistants from the PEP++ project, will actively participate in the sessions.

In addition to NLR Nepal staff, a number of strategic stakeholders will join the event, including the Leprosy Focal Person from Madhesh Province, representatives from the Global Leprosy Mapping (GLM) team, and one participant each from Nepal Leprosy Trust (NLT) and The Leprosy Mission Nepal (TLMN). Their engagement will enrich discussions, ensure alignment across programs, and foster stronger collaboration.

The review and retreat will focus on:

• Assessing progress against the 2022–2025 strategy and program outcomes.

• Sharing experiences and lessons learned from key projects, including PEP++ and GLM.

• Strengthening organizational culture, teamwork, and resilience.

• Building capacity in scientific and report writing to enhance NLR Nepal’s visibility and credibility in national and international platforms.

This event marks a significant milestone in reinforcing NLR Nepal’s commitment to Zero Health Inequality from Disease, Zero Disability & Barriers, and Zero Discrimination & Exclusion, while ensuring that the organization continues to innovate and lead in inclusive development and public health.

Stay tuned for updates, highlights, and reflections from Pokhara as NLR Nepal moves forward with renewed energy and commitment.

Global Leprosy Mapping (GLM) Expands Digital Surveillance in Nepal
Between January and June 2025, NLR Nepal reported 11,844 leprosy cases from 237 municipalities through the GLM project, using a case-based digital reporting system. The project introduced a cloud-hosted scientific dashboard with real-time maps and automated cluster analysis, strengthening Nepal’s capacity to detect hotspots and guide interventions. While some municipalities in Madhesh remain to be covered, training and digital integration are ensuring rapid progress toward a more accurate and responsive leprosy surveillance system.

NLR Nepal has completed screening of 23,961 contacts during the 24-month follow-up of the PEP++ study, detecting 20 new leprosy cases across 25 municipalities in Madhesh Province. This milestone demonstrates the importance of preventive treatment and active surveillance in the journey towards zero leprosy.