Berlin, 03.12.2024 - How closely climate change and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are linked was the topic of an expert discussion at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The event brought together experts from the BMZ, other relevant federal ministries, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs). The aim was to shed light on the pressing challenges at the interface between climate change and health - a topic that is also becoming increasingly relevant in view of the upcoming 30th Climate Change Conference in Belém.
Government and politics: commitment to NTDs
Dr. Georg Kippels, Member of the German Bundestag, emphasized that the German government has put the issue of combating NTDs back on the political agenda for over a decade, flanked by members of parliament who are committed to it on a cross-party basis. A key challenge lies in the detection and targeted diagnosis of NTDs - an area that is becoming even more complex due to the consequences of climate change and the overlap with other poverty-related diseases. Poorer sections of the population in Africa, Asia, America and increasingly in Europe are particularly affected.
Scientific perspectives: Data, research and local engagement
The contributions from the scientific community focused on the climate change-NTD nexus:
- Prof. Dr. Ina Danquah (University of Bonn, ZEF) emphasized the importance of valid data. Only by linking climate data, socio-economic data, health data and individual patient data could precise conclusions be drawn for the necessary adjustments to healthcare.
- Prof. Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit (University of Hamburg, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine) presented the current spread of insect-borne NTDs. He emphasized that there is no universal solution for the control of vectors and vector-borne diseases. In addition to researching the vectors, the involvement of local communities in affected hotspots is crucial, for example in order to successfully implement vaccination programs.
Interdisciplinarity as the key
Dr. Daniel Eibach (BMZ, Pandemic Prevention Division, One Health) emphasized that effective prevention and control of NTDs can only succeed through interdisciplinary approaches. Cross-sectoral cooperation plays a central role in developing sustainable and effective solutions.
Conclusion
The expert discussion made it clear that the nexus of climate change and NTDs has far-reaching consequences for global health - both in the Global South and increasingly in the North. The close integration of politics, science and the involvement of the local context/population are crucial in order to successfully meet these challenges.
