01308nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042100001200058700001200070700001300082700001300095700001200108700001100120700001300131245013500144300001100279520081000290022001401100       2025                            d  bElsevier BV1 aZongo K1 aMberu M1 aAssefa L1 aKucera T1 aPappa S1 aAmin A1 aSankar G00aBridging the Last Mile: The Critical Role of Local Civil Society in Advancing Equity and Inclusion for Neglected Tropical Diseases  a1077893 a<p>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.</p>
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