In a significant move, The END Fund, a pioneering collaborative philanthropic fund dedicated to eradicating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), has announced the appointment of Tsitsi Masiyiwa as its new Board Chair. This appointment marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey, as Masiyiwa succeeds William (Bill) Campbell, who held the position since 2012.
Under Campbell’s leadership, the END Fund achieved remarkable milestones, rallying support from over 6,400 donors to administer more than 1.5 billion treatments across 31 countries. These treatments were channeled through locally-driven NTD programs targeting a range of diseases including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis.
Masiyiwa, a respected philanthropist and social entrepreneur, has been an integral part of the END Fund’s journey since its inception in 2012. Over the past six years, she served on the END Fund board and later assumed the role of Co-Vice Chair in 2022. Renowned for her effective advocacy and exemplary leadership, she also holds the position of Chair and Co-Founder of Higherlife Foundation.
NTDs cast a shadow over the lives of more than 1.7 billion people globally, with a significant burden falling on Africa, where over 40% of these diseases are concentrated. The END Fund has been at the forefront of addressing this challenge, particularly through its partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (MoH). Together with implementing organizations, they have delivered over 200 million treatments to millions of Nigerians, targeting diseases such as river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, and intestinal worms, which collectively affect 166 million people in the country.
As the new Board Chair, Tsitsi Masiyiwa is set to champion the cause of African leaders taking ownership of the agenda to combat NTDs. These diseases have been a drain on African economies, costing billions of dollars annually in lost revenue according to the World Health Organization.
Expressing her honor and enthusiasm about her new role, Tsitsi Masiyiwa stated, “Having witnessed the incredible impact of the organization first-hand, I’m excited to lead our efforts towards even greater sustainability by empowering affected communities to take the lead in eliminating NTDs. We are all responsible for ending NTDs.” Masiyiwa’s dedication to this cause is expected to magnify the urgency and importance of addressing NTDs at various levels of decision-making.
Ellen Agler, the Chief Executive Officer of the END Fund, welcomed Masiyiwa’s appointment, highlighting her role in advocating for African governments, philanthropists, and private sector leaders to drive the disease elimination agenda. Agler expressed excitement about serving alongside Masiyiwa in her new capacity as Board Chair.
Tsitsi Masiyiwa’s influence extends beyond the realm of NTDs. Over the past two decades, she has emerged as a prominent philanthropist and advocate for gender equality. Co-founding the Higherlife Foundation with her husband Strive in 1996, she has contributed significantly to fostering thriving communities through investments in health, education, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster preparedness and recovery.
As Tsitsi Masiyiwa assumes her role as Board Chair of The END Fund, the world watches with anticipation, hopeful for even greater strides in the global battle against neglected tropical diseases.
