• Burundi and  Egypt eliminated trachoma. According to the WHO’s Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases, 32% fewer people needed treatment since 2010, with 867 million people treated in 2023. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported significant advances in global health, with countries across Africa achieving milestones.

These milestones highlight how far global health has advanced in 2025:

Tuberculosis Progress 

In Africa, Tuberculosis (TB) deaths declined by 46% over the past decade.

Yet, WHO notes that TB still killed 1.2 million people in 2024. According to WHO, this underscores, “the urgent need to address risk factors such as HIV, diabetes, smoking, and undernutrition.”

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TB remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, especially in Africa, where the two diseases overlap heavily. Because TB mostly affects adults in their working years, its impact extends beyond health.

This reduces workforce participation in the end slowing economic growth. 

Neglected Tropical Diseases 

Secondly, several African nations reached historic elimination milestones in 2025. Niger became the first African country to eliminate river blindness, while Guinea and Kenya eliminated sleeping sickness.

Burundi and Egypt eliminated trachoma. According to the WHO’s Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases, 32% fewer people needed treatment since 2010, with 867 million people treated in 2023. 

Malaria Control

In 2025, Seven additional African countries introduced malaria vaccines. This amounted to 24 nations, reaching more than 10 million children annually. “Wider use of new tools including dual‑ingredient nets and WHO‑recommended vaccines helped prevent an estimated 170 million cases and 1 million deaths in 2024,” says WHO.

Life Expectancy Gains 

Furthermore, WHO notes that Africa recorded one of the fastest improvements in healthy life expectancy over the past two decades. Although the region still lags behind global averages, the gains highlight the impact of sustained investment in health systems and disease control. 

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