Media relations / News

At the 2026 fireside chat, you will have the opportunity to interview our youth representative for neglected tropical diseases, Leonie Maier. Since October 2025, Leonie Maier has been Germany’s first Youth Ambassador for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The 28-year-old medical student from Leipzig was already actively engaged in global health issues prior to her appointment.

In her role as Youth Ambassador, she brings the perspective of young professionals into the discussion on global health and development cooperation. Her goal is to increase the visibility of neglected diseases and strengthen international collaboration. World NTD Day provides an important occasion for this mission.

You are welcome to use the following short interview for publication.
Embargo: 30 January 2026

Three Questions for Leonie Maier

  1. What does global health and World NTD Day mean to you as a representative of the younger generation in Germany?
    "Global health represents solidarity and responsibility beyond national borders. World NTD Day reminds us that millions of people continue to suffer from diseases that are preventable and treatable. Especially in times of multiple crises, we must not treat global health as a secondary issue. Combating neglected tropical diseases is a central contribution to poverty reduction, education, and social stability – also from the perspective of the younger generation in Germany."
  2. How do you assess the current reform agenda of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) regarding the fight against neglected tropical diseases?
    "The BMZ reform agenda offers an opportunity to anchor global health more strategically and sustainably. It is important that neglected tropical diseases continue to be considered a cross-cutting issue. In particular, cross-sectoral approaches such as One Health, which link health, environment, and development, can significantly strengthen the effectiveness of NTD programs if implemented consistently."
  3. What personally motivates you to engage as Youth Ambassador for neglected tropical diseases?
    "I am motivated by the profound injustice that diseases persist solely due to poverty and lack of political attention. As a medical student, I see how much knowledge and effective interventions already exist – and how little of it reaches those affected. I also notice that neglected tropical diseases are hardly addressed in the curriculum. As Youth Ambassador, I want to connect young professionals, share knowledge, and contribute to putting NTDs higher on the scientific, political, and media agenda."

Contact for Interviews:
Coordination Office: ntd-net@gundh.com

 



Berlin, 22 January 2026 – On 30 January, the World Day for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), established by the WHO in 2021, global attention focuses on a group of diseases that primarily affect people in the poorest tropical regions. These include diseases such as leprosy and dengue fever—the latter increasingly gaining relevance in Europe as well.

Everyone is called upon to ensure that these diseases are sustainably combated and eventually eliminated. Ongoing programs, which reach over a billion people annually, must not only continue but even expand to safeguard the progress achieved so far.

According to the DNTDs, the BMZ reform agenda offers important opportunities for international cooperation. Collaboration with multilateral partners such as the WHO, ESPEN, and regional health networks, as well as with private-sector companies and cross-sectoral approaches—for example, in the area of One Health, linking health, environment, and societal stability—will receive greater focus. Furthermore, the BMZ reaffirms its commitment to poverty reduction.

Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, spokesperson of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) and Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology in Bonn, emphasizes:

 "We very much welcome the German Federal Government’s intention, through the BMZ reform, to focus its development policy more effectively on combating poverty and inequality of opportunity, particularly in Africa. Crucially, this includes targeted support for NTD programs—without which the cycle of disease and poverty cannot be broken. The BMZ reform also opens opportunities to strengthen international cooperation and to place NTDs more prominently on both national and global agendas."

 Leonie Maier, Germany’s first Youth Ambassador for NTDs, active since October 2025, adds:

"Despite multiple crises and geopolitical challenges that put pressure on national and international budgets, people affected by neglected tropical diseases must not be forgotten. Combating NTDs is not only a health issue but also crucial for poverty reduction, education, and societal stability."

The DNTDs welcome the worldwide activities marking World NTD Day and are planning their own events in Germany, with participation from network members and partners to increase the visibility of NTDs.

Selected Global and National Activities

Bensheim / Africa – CBM Highlights World NTD Day 2026
CBM will spotlight the fight against NTDs with inspiring stories, videos, and facts from its project work. Milestones, such as the elimination of trachoma in some countries, will be celebrated. A key highlight will be the national celebration in Burundi, where CBM, as a major partner in the country, played a significant role. CBM aims to eliminate trachoma globally by 2030, launching an initiative on World NTD Day. Activities and progress can be followed at www.cbm.org and on CBM’s social media channels including LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).

Berlin – DNTDs Fireside Chat
28 January 2026 – The DNTDs will host a fireside chat with Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Bärbel Kofler, MdB at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Prior to this, the Parliamentary Advisory Board on Neglected Tropical Diseases, now under new leadership with Sascha van Beek, MdB, will be officially reinstated in a ceremonial session.

Hamburg – Panel Discussion and Art Exhibition
30 January 2026 – The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) invites the public to a panel discussion and art exhibition under the theme: “Invisible Realities: Art, Politics, and Conflicts – The Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases.” Panelists include Prof. Dr. Jürgen May (BNITM), Dr. Jutta Reinhard Rupp (FIND), and Melissa Scharwey (MSF). The exhibition showcases works from a global art competition organized by the AG NTD of the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health, the Ethiopian NTD Youth Organization Alert Gursha, and Ethiopian artist Solomon Kifle, supported by the Andreas Ruppel Fund in cooperation with FESTMIH, with the Hamburg event hosted alongside the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).

Singen – Radio Spot
The pharmaceutical company Takeda, producer of a dengue vaccine, will produce a radio spot with Prof. Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, airing in early February, to raise awareness of the tiger mosquito’s spread in Germany and educate the public on preventive measures.

Tübingen – “Light Against Forgetting” Event at the University of Tübingen
29 January 2026, from 17:00 – The tropical medicine team from the University Hospital Tübingen will host a public event in front of the university’s main hall on Wilhelmstraße. Using illuminated worm-shaped installations, informative posters, and an interactive quiz, the team aims to raise awareness of neglected tropical diseases and their global significance.

Würzburg / Online – Online Talk & Historical Walk with Photo Exhibition

  • Online Session: “First-Hand: How People Affected by Leprosy in India Claim Their Rights”
    27 January 2026, 18:00 (Zoom) – As part of World NTD Day, DAHW will host an online conversation with Maya Ranaware, president of the Indian self-advocacy organization APAL, discussing stigma, rights advocacy, and the role of affected communities in the fight against NTDs. More information and registration at www.lepra-beenden.de.
  • Historical Walk: “In the Footsteps of Leprosy”
    25 January 2026, 10:30 (Meeting point: Adalbero Church, Weingartenstraße 25) – In Würzburg, DAHW will guide a historical walk along former leprosy care facilities, connecting Europe’s history of leprosy to the current global situation. Another tour will take place on 29 January 2026, 15:30. Registration is recommended; spontaneous participation is possible. Afterwards, visitors can view the exhibition “Lichtblicke – Between Stigma and Strength” at Würzburg City Hall (until 31 January 2026), offering photographic insights into the lives of people still affected by leprosy and highlighting the importance of anti-stigma efforts in NTD control.

For further inquiries or interview requests, please contact ntdnet@gundh.com or visit www.dntds.de.

 

Berlin, June 16, 2025 – The German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) is very pleased with the decision of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to present this year’s Commitment Award for “outstanding personal commitment in development cooperation” to Prof. Dr. Martin Kollmann. The award honors his life’s work, which has significantly contributed to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.

As early as the 2000s – when neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) received little attention in Germany – Prof. Kollmann strongly advocated for these preventable and typically poverty-related diseases to be brought back onto the development policy agenda. He played a key role in the founding of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) in 2014. This founding was inspired by the London Declaration, signed two years earlier by committed donor countries, companies, and NGOs, which brought NTDs into the spotlight – although Germany had not signed it at the time.

Together with the DNTDs, Prof. Dr. Martin Kollmann helped ensure that the fight against these diseases regained attention in Germany in the years that followed. Programs were initiated, and key institutions involved in combating NTDs received support from the German government. When the London Declaration was renewed in 2022 and replaced by the Kigali Declaration, which gave high priority to NTDs on the global health agenda, Germany became the first Western industrialized nation to sign it.

Prof. Dr. Martin Kollmann is a specialist in ophthalmology. His path was shaped by personal experiences: in the 1980s, he worked as a doctor in rural Ethiopia through the German Development Service (DED). There, he encountered deep poverty, preventable blindness, and social exclusion – as well as the remarkable resilience of those affected.

In 1994, with support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), he went to Nairobi as a lecturer to strengthen ophthalmological training through a partnership with the University of Munich. Starting in 2001, he worked with CBM Christoffel Mission for the Blind, focusing on training and developing sustainable healthcare structures in rural Kenya.

From 2010 onward, his professional focus shifted to fighting NTDs. As a technical advisor at CBM, he worked closely with partners from national programs, the WHO, research, industry, and civil society. Particularly important to him was working directly with local health workers and volunteers: “They know the challenges on the ground best – and often the appropriate solutions too. I learned a great deal from them – about respect, innovation, and humanity.”

Through his “train-the-trainer” approach, Prof. Kollmann made a significant contribution to training local healthcare personnel – and helped restore eyesight to many.

Even in retirement, from Nairobi, Martin Kollmann continues to be deeply committed – professionally, politically, and personally – to Germany’s efforts in the fight against NTDs. As a bridge-builder between research, private sector, and civil society, Prof. Kollmann offers valuable input – also for the implementation of the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030, which is up for a midterm review this year. Looking ahead, he emphasizes: “To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and eliminate NTDs, we need global solidarity, innovative approaches, strong local systems – and the active involvement of those affected. Civil society engagement is not optional, but essential.”

Photo: CBM Christoffel Mission for the Blind