Activities of the DNTDs

+++ Dr. Georg Kippels welcomes guests – Prof. Francisca Mutapi (Uniting to Combat NTDs) joins for the first time

Berlin, 25 June 2025 – At the summer reception of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs), Dr. Georg Kippels, Member of the German Bundestag and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health – formerly Chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Neglected Tropical Diseases – welcomed numerous guests from politics, science, and civil society.

In his address, Dr. Kippels emphasized the importance of combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), especially in the context of limited public budgets. In his new role as State Secretary, he aims to ensure that global health remains a part of interministerial discussions within the federal government, alongside domestic health policy. He stressed the need for committed parliamentarians in the current legislative period to continue supporting the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development in this field. The economic benefits of effective NTD programs also deserve greater recognition. While no longer formally responsible for development policy, Dr. Kippels reaffirmed his personal commitment to advancing the fight against NTDs.

A special guest at the summer reception was Professor Francisca Mutapi, who since March 2024 has served as Deputy Chair of the Board at Uniting to Combat NTDs. She is Professor of Global Health Infection and Immunity, Deputy Director of the TIBA (Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa) partnership, and Co-Director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh.

Prof. Mutapi has made significant contributions to global efforts against NTDs through her scientific work and close collaboration with the WHO and national governments. Her research on paediatric schistosomiasis was instrumental in the WHO’s 2012 recommendation to test and treat preschool children. In Zimbabwe, she played a leading role in developing the country’s national deworming program for schoolchildren. Today, she coordinates the continent-wide TIBA partnership (Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa) – an African-led network active in nine countries.

In Berlin, Prof. Mutapi drew attention to the consequences of USAID’s withdrawal from NTD funding in many African countries. Already overstretched health systems now face the challenge of integrating NTD control more efficiently. She called for a paradigm shift: while some NTDs, e.g. trachoma, are treated with antibiotics, it is crucial to reduce unnecessary mass drug administration and instead focus on identifying and treating those actually infected. She praised the German government’s support, particularly its commitment to addressing female genital schistosomiasis, and highlighted progress within the African Union, where UTC is working to sensitize policymakers to the issue.

Matthias Seiche, new Head of the Division for Pandemic Prevention and One Health at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), emphasized the development policy relevance of fighting NTDs. The goal, he said, is to enable affected individuals – often the poorest in the world – to live in dignity. The development principle of Leave no one behind is more relevant than ever. Seiche pointed to close cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), particularly in supporting product development partnerships (PDPs). These are complemented by BMZ programs that help bring medicines to market and ensure their distribution. In light of stagnant budgets, it is essential to strategically integrate NTD control into broader health and development policies – especially within the One Health framework.

The evening was moderated by Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, spokesperson for the DNTDs and Director of the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University Hospital Bonn.

Berlin, June 18, 2025 – The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) presented the Engagement Award in the Lifetime Achievement category for the first time. The award went to Prof. Dr. Martin Kollmann, founding member of the German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs). With this award, the BMZ honors his more than three decades of extraordinary commitment to the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In addition, two prizes were awarded in each of the categories Young Commitment and Long-Term Commitment.

Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan presented the awards at a festive ceremony. In her laudatory speech, she highlighted the award winners as role models and emphasized that the challenges in this world are not diminishing. A better future is only possible if many people take responsibility. The award winners are a strong sign of this. They show how complex, often abstract issues can be translated into concrete help for people – with the clear message: You are not alone. You have our solidarity.

Around 80 guests, including representatives of civil society and former award winners, attended the event. Jochen Steinhilber, Head of the BMZ Department for Refugees, Crisis Prevention and Civil Society, praised Prof. Kollmann in his speech as a committed doctor and champion of neglected population groups. NTDs are a symbol of global inequality, he said, and Prof. Kollmann has been working tirelessly for decades to combat them.

The award honors him not only for his medical work, but also for his outstanding ability to build bridges between civil society, science, and business. As a networker and mentor, he also raises awareness of the issue among many young people and inspires them to take action.

DNTDs at the joint conference of the German Society for Parasitology, the British Society for Parasitology and the Swiss Society of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology

Würzburg, March 13, 2025 - In the session Neglected Parasites and One Health at the joint conference of the German Society of Parasitology, the British Society for Parasitology and the Swiss Society for Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, spokesperson of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) and Director of the Institute of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University Hospital Bonn, warned of the difficult financial situation in this field of research.

“The next few years will be decisive in determining whether the successes in the fight against NTDs can be continued and possibly some of the diseases eliminated, or whether the work of many years will be undone. The big challenge is the funding freeze by the US agency USAID, but also the German government's announcement to cut funding for development cooperation. This does not bode well,’ said Hörauf in his presentation.

Conference President Prof. Dr. Markus Engstler, member of the DNTDs, regretted in his opening speech that some colleagues from the USA were unable to attend due to current developments. He underlined the importance of international cooperation and emphasized that conferences such as this one contribute significantly to strengthening scientific excellence in Europe.

In the NTD session, Prof. Hörauf also referred to the important work and cooperation of the international NTD networks, briefly presenting the work of the Swiss Alliance against NTDs and the UK Coalition against NTDs.

World Day against Neglected Tropical Diseases 2025

Berlin, 30 January 2025 - On the occasion of the World Day against Neglected Tropical Diseases, in the last session week of the German Bundestag, Dr. Georg Kippels MdB, spokesperson of the Parliamentary Advisory Council against Neglected Tropical Diseases and longest-serving member of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, emphasized the commitment of members of parliament in the fight against these diseases. He particularly emphasized the long-standing support of Prof. Dr. Andrew Ullmann and Prof. Dr. Helge Braun.

The fireside chat of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases focused on two important anniversaries: the 200th birthday of Theodor Bilharz and the 125th anniversary of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg.

Prof. Dr. August Stich, Chief Physician for Clinical Infectiology at the University Hospital of Würzburg, traced a historical arc from the first contact between European explorers and indigenous peoples in the 16th century to colonialism and the perception of tropical diseases as a threat that had to be combated - particularly with regard to the economic exploitation of the colonies. He addressed key players such as Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch as well as the role of tropical doctors then and now.

He referred to the long-term consequences of colonialism, including climate change caused by the global North. Critically, he stated: “There is still a bit of racism hidden within us” and called for an honest acknowledgement of this responsibility as well as concrete measures to make amends - including in the field of tropical medicine.

He shed light on the history of tropical medicine and critically questioned the strategies for combating neglected tropical diseases. He also addressed the role of science and the Christian mission, particularly in the context of African sleeping sickness and schistosomiasis.

In view of current political challenges in Germany, in particular the increasing isolation towards migrants, he concluded with an African proverb: “I am because you are, and so that we are, I am.”

Prof. Dr. Jürgen May, Chairman of the Board of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) and Honorary Chairman of the DNTD, addressed the current debate surrounding the institute's namesake, Bernhard Nocht (1857-1945). Accusations that Nocht was a racist or National Socialist were critically analyzed. In 2022, the Institute commissioned the Research Center for Contemporary History in Hamburg to produce an expert report. At the same time, a biography on Hamburg's (post)colonial heritage was written. Both works are currently being discussed and a possible renaming of the institute is being debated.

Dr. Gisela Schneider, Director of the German Institute for Medical Mission (Difäm) in Tübingen, reflected on the responsibility of the church in the colonial era and spoke about the need for all people to have an equal right to health. She emphasized that today's approaches are based on community empowerment and that civil society involvement has grown. She also addressed the current difficult situation in Goma/DR Congo and the lack of prospects for the civilian population there.

Dr. Julien Alban Nguinkal, bioinformatics statistician at the BNITM, presented the opportunities of artificial intelligence in research. He discussed how colonial research structures can be overcome and how data in countries of the Global South can be collected in real time and made available to researchers on site. Research results are often only published once the associated studies have been published, meaning that valuable findings are only available to local researchers after a delay. Artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, must be trained with data and not just fed with “Western” data from the global North. He emphasized the need to involve local stakeholders and health authorities and provide them with targeted training.

Dr. Sophie Schneitler, board member of the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health e.V. (DTG), presented a study for discussion on whether the term “tropical medicine” is still up to date. Researchers from the Global South and North were asked about this. The central message from the South was: “You are dealing with strange things, we are working on the current medical problems on the ground.” She pointed out that improving medical education was more important than the debate about the name of the specialty.

The event was moderated by Antonia Braus, deputy spokesperson of the DNTDs, consultant for One Health and scientific monitoring at Veterinarians Without Borders (ToGeV), and Dr. Dr. Carsten Köhler, Director of the Baden-Württemberg Competence Centre for Tropical Medicine at the Institute for Tropical Medicine at the Eberhard Karls University and the University Hospital of Tübingen. Dr. Köhler is also the 1st Chairman of the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health e.V. s

The conclusion of the event can be summarized as follows:

  1. research and training must be adapted to current global challenges. Medical training should focus more on neglected tropical diseases, particularly with regard to migration medicine.
  2. international partnership and capacity building are crucial for a sustainable fight against neglected tropical diseases. Local actors in the affected countries must be more closely involved and trained.
  3. Technological innovations such as artificial intelligence can help to decolonize research structures and make health data usable in real time.
  4. private sector initiatives are playing an increasing role in the development of new medicines and vaccines for affected regions.
  5. the debate on historical responsibility shows that the colonial past of tropical medicine must continue to be critically reflected upon. This applies not only to institutions such as the Bernhard Nocht Institute, but also to the entire research landscape.

A nexus that affects North and South

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.