Parliamentary Advisory Board

photocredit: DNTDs

Berlin, 23 June 2026 – This year's Summer Reception of the German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases focused on international partnerships, scientific collaboration, and shared global responsibility. At the heart of the evening was the discussion of how sustainable progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be achieved through long-term cooperation between policymakers, researchers, and affected countries. The guest of honour was Prof. Dr. Ohene Adjei, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Germany. A renowned tropical medicine specialist and parasitologist, Prof. Adjei brings decades of experience in research, teaching, and healthcare and has maintained close scientific ties with Germany through numerous collaborative projects.

Health as the Foundation for Stability and Development

The Summer Reception was hosted under the patronage of Member of the German Bundestag Sascha van Beek, Chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Neglected Tropical Diseases. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasized the crucial role of resilient health systems in ensuring social stability and economic development. Health, he noted, is not only essential for improving living conditions locally but also for fostering reliable international partnerships and maintaining resilient global supply chains. Germany, he stressed, bears a particular responsibility in this regard, especially in connection with trade in strategically important raw materials.

Van Beek also highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change. Disease-carrying vectors such as the Asian tiger mosquito are increasingly spreading across Europe and may contribute to the transmission of tropical diseases in the future. Despite these developments, keeping global health high on the political agenda remains difficult, particularly in light of pressing geopolitical priorities and shrinking public budgets.

Ghana Leading the Fight Against NTDs

In his keynote address, Prof. Adjei presented an impressive overview of Ghana's achievements in combating neglected tropical diseases. In recent years, the West African country has successfully eliminated trachoma, Guinea worm disease, and human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Transmission of lymphatic filariasis has been interrupted in 109 of the country's 116 formerly endemic districts, while the elimination of onchocerciasis is also increasingly within reach. Education and training of health professionals, as well as NTD research, continue to be advanced at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR).

According to Prof. Adjei, these successes are the result of several key factors: a strong healthcare infrastructure, early diagnosis, and, above all, long-standing international research partnerships. At the same time, poverty and climate change remain the principal drivers of NTD transmission. "Diagnosis is the key. Only when diseases are detected early can they be effectively controlled," he emphasized.

International Partnerships as a Key to Success

Prof. Adjei made it clear that Ghana's progress would not have been possible without international cooperation. No country, he argued, can tackle global health challenges alone. Long-standing collaborations with German universities and research institutions—particularly in Bonn and Hamburg—have played a vital role in building scientific expertise, training health professionals, and establishing sustainable research structures. In the fight against neglected tropical diseases, mutual learning and joint research are indispensable. Partnerships based on equality are therefore not only a political aspiration but also a practical prerequisite for lasting success.

Prof. Adjei himself exemplifies the close scientific cooperation between Ghana and Germany. As former Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and former Deputy Director of the KCCR, he collaborated with research partners from Bonn and Hamburg for nearly two decades. In addition to his work on filarial diseases, he contributed to the development of what has become the standard treatment for Buruli ulcer.

Peace as a Prerequisite for Health

Alongside scientific and health policy issues, Prof. Adjei highlighted another essential factor: political stability. Sustainable health improvements, he noted, cannot be achieved without peace and functioning state institutions. "Peace is the foundation for everything else. Ghana is a blessed country—safe, stable, and governed by leaders who work closely with traditional authorities."

Shaping Global Responsibility Together

The Summer Reception underscored that the fight against neglected tropical diseases extends far beyond medicine. Health, peace, economic stability, climate change, and international cooperation are deeply interconnected. The event reaffirmed that sustainable progress can only be achieved through long-term partnerships and shared global responsibility.

The evening was moderated by Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, who collaborated with Prof. Adjei in Hamburg and later in Bonn and today continues to coordinate numerous research and training initiatives between Ghana and Germany.

Berlin, 13.06.2024 - Members of parliament and scientific staff of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Neglected Tropical Diseases met in the Reichstag to discuss a joint photo exhibition planned for 2025. The concept envisages that, as a first step, the members of the network will select and describe photos from their projects and present them to the participating MPs for selection.It is also planned to make the exhibition available in the constituencies of the participating MPs.

Berlin, 01.02.2024 - The Rwandan Ambassador H.E. Igor Cesar and Dr Karamba Diaby, Member of the German Bundestag and member of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Neglected Tropical Diseases, were invited to the 2024 fireside chat at the German Bundestag. The discussion took place in front of around 60 guests, including other MPs, representatives from ministries and experts from the field of global health.

The Rwandan ambassador pointed out that after the 1994 genocide in his country, the people had returned to their senses and committed themselves to putting people, citizens and politics at the centre of their interests. This included recognising that people have a right to health. A health insurance system was introduced, from which 97 per cent of all Rwandans now benefit.

Dr Karamba Diaby emphasised that women make up 60 percent of the Rwandan parliament. This is important, he said, because women play the main role in the country's development and contribute significantly to progress. In this respect, the East African country is a role model for all countries in the world.

Other topics discussed included the recruitment and migration of skilled workers in science, the opportunities offered by digitalisation and telemedicine, which could enable the African continent to leapfrog development steps and contribute to further modernisation.

The event was moderated by Michael Herbst, Head of Political Work, Christoffel-Blindenmission Deutschland, Chairman, Association for Development Policy and Humanitarian Aid (VENRO). Antonia Braus, Member of the DNTD Board, One Health and Scientific Monitoring Officer, Veterinarians Without Borders (ToGeV) welcomed the guests and Dr Georg Kippels MdB, Spokesperson of the Parliamentary Advisory Council against NTDs, rounded off the evening with his closing remarks on this fireside evening.

Berlin, 20.10.2022 - At a joint lunch of the German Network and the Parliamentary Advisory Council against Neglected Tropical Diseases, the MPs discussed, against the backdrop of austerity measures in the federal budget, how the many commitments of the federal government - coalition agreement, Kigali Declaration on NTDs, G7 final declarations - in which it has committed itself to stepping up the fight against NTDs, can be put into action. Increases in funding are not to be expected; everyone hopes that the funds and projects already committed will not be cut.