South Sudan continues to face a heavy burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) with 19 NTDs endemic across the country. Of these, five are classified as Preventive Chemotherapy NTDs; diseases that can be controlled and ultimately eliminated through mass drug administration (MDA) using WHO-recommended medicines.
In 2025, MENTOR worked in close partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to deliver treatments addressing high rates of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis across the country. This large-scale campaign was supported by the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF), a global coalition of countries, donors, and partners, in partnership with The Carter Center.
Over the year, 1,671,679 people received treatment for onchocerciasis (river blindness), and 948,994 people were treated for lymphatic filariasis, reaching communities across 10 counties.
Findings from an independent coverage evaluation survey were encouraging. Of the three counties evaluated, all achieved coverage above 80 per cent for onchocerciasis and 65 per cent for lymphatic filariasis, meeting the epidemiological threshold required to sustain progress towards elimination.
Delivering results at this scale in South Sudan is never straightforward. Seven of the ten counties supported by this programme are in fragile, insecure, and hard-to-reach areas bordering Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
In the Upper Nile State, teams extended services into Maban County to reach refugee populations who fled conflict in Sudan in 2012 and again in 2023. Today, Maban hosts over 219,000 refugees across four camps: Doro, Yusuf Batil, Kaya, and Gendrassa, underscoring the continued scale and complexity of humanitarian needs in the area.
Despite insecurity, long distances, and extremely difficult terrain, MENTOR and MoH teams achieved high coverage. Integral to their success was careful planning with communities, strong engagement and advocacy with local leaders, enhanced supportive supervision, and the determination of frontline teams. Medicines reached even the most remote villages, often on foot, ensuring that no one was left behind. (see story below)
The MENTOR team extends its sincere appreciation to all communities involved, community volunteers, the MoH, RLMF, and The Carter Center for their continued investment in reaching those with the highest need in the most vulnerable settings. Together, we have demonstrated that with strong collaboration and shared determination, the elimination of NTDs in South Sudan is within reach.
Reaching Barmach on foot: A story of commitment in Akobo County
Akobo County, in the north-east corner of the country along the border with Ethiopia, is endemic for onchocerciasis, one of South Sudan’s most widespread neglected tropical diseases. Its situation makes it a vital hub for cross‑border movement and community interaction.
The county is divided into eight payams – four in the east (Alali, Bilkey, Dengjok, and Nyandit) and four in the west (Barmach, Boung, Diror, and Walgak). According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the population is estimated at 263,873 people (103,827 in Akobo West and 160,046 in Akobo East).
During the MDA campaign in December 2025, flooding cut off access to Barmach, one of the most populated payams in Western Akobo, leaving it reachable only on foot. Among the team deployed to reach the cut-off communities were the MENTOR NTD Coordinator, Jimmy Idraku, and the MoH National Supervisor, Chol Omak.
Together with the county NTD focal person and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, they waded through a swamp for over an hour from Walgak to Barmach to provide supportive supervision to community drug distributors and their supervisors.
Their journey reflects the essence of humanitarian service: commitment, resilience in the face of hardship, and the determination to ensure that even the most isolated communities receive essential NTD services.