Unite, Act, Eliminate - Successes in the fight against neglected tropical diseases in Rwanda

Fireside chat on World Day against Neglected Tropical Diseases 2024

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.

Information event for scientific assistants of Members of the German Bundestag

Berlin, 15.11. 2022 - In the new legislative period, scientific assistants of Members of the German Bundestag from the Parliamentary Advisory Council, the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, Health and Education and Research had the opportunity to learn about neglected tropical diseases and their importance in global health. Prof Dr Jürgen May, Director of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg, gave an overview of neglected tropical diseases. He described the connection between poor populations in Africa, Latin America and Asia and their health limitations and lost years of life (Dalys). He also pointed to international efforts to address neglected tropical diseases in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.3.), the WHO-NTD Roadmap and the Kigali Declaration on NTDs. Miriam Maier of Christoffel-Blindenmission e.V. spoke about the challenges in NTD control programmes of eye diseases such as trachoma and river blindness, Dr. Anil Fastenau of DAHW (Deutsche Lepra und Tuberkulosehilfe e.V. ), gave an insight into his work at DAHW, Dr. Igor Pilawski presented the project work of Veterinarians without Borders and Antonia Asche from Merck spoke about her company's commitment to control programmes against schistosomiasis. Important questions arose about the connection between antibiotic resistance and NTDs, as well as climate change and the possible disease burden of neglected tropical diseases. The event was hosted by Christian Griebenow, CEO of Veterinarians Without Borders and member of the DNTD board.

From Commitments to Action

+++ Lunch with the Parliamentary Advisory Council against Neglected Tropical Diseases

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.

Members in the 20th Legislative Period

Berlin, 26.02.2022 - Members of the Parliamentary Advisory Council against Neglected Tropical Diseases for Health Systems Strengthening are currently

• Dr. Georg Kippels, (CDU/CSU), Chairman
• Heike Baehrens (SPD), Deputy Chairwomen
• Prof. Dr. Helge Braun, (CDU/CSU)
• Dr. Karamba Diaby, (SPD)
• Knut Gerschau (FDP)
• Dr. Christoph Hoffmann, (FDP)
• Volkmar Klein, (CDU/CSU)
• Rebecca Schamber (SPD)
• Kordula Schulz-Asche, (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
• Ruppert Stüwe, (SPD)
• Dr. Andrew Ullmann, (FDP)

 

First meeting in the new legislative period

Berlin, 23.03.2022 - At the first meeting of the Parliamentary Advisory Council against Neglected Tropical Diseases and for Strengthening Health Systems in this legislative period, the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases welcomed the new members Ruppert Stüwe MdB and Rebecca Schamber MdB. Thematically, the focus was on product development partnerships (PDPs). Patron of the Parliamentary Evening was Dr Georg Kippels MdB, Speaker of the Parliamentary Advisory Council.  Dr. Joachim Klein gave an overview of the research funding of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Dr Sabine Specht, Head Filarial Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi) presented research approaches for neglected tropical diseases. Dr Jutta Reinhard Rupp, Head, Global Health Institute, Merck pleaded for the decoupling of donations in order to create incentives to develop and distribute innovative drugs.