On April 23, 2021, the Canadian Network for NTDs (CNNTD), together with Senator Peter M. Boehm, hosted a high-level roundtable for the Canadian Senators about how neglected tropical diseases are the missing piece to better health.

Dr. Mwele Malecela, Director of the NTD Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), opened the event highlighting the importance of tackling NTDs if we are to reach the sustainable development goals and address global inequities worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Malecela also spoke about the global goals and milestones in the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021-2030, which was launched on January 30, 2021.

Dr. Georg Kippels, Member of the German Bundestag, Chair of the German Parliamentary Council Against NTDs, followed with a video message outlining how and why Germany has invested in the global movement to address NTDs. Dr. Kippels described the role of the German Network for NTDs in creating momentum for German engagement.

Finally Mr. William Campbell, Board Chair of The End Fund demonstrated how mass drug administration is carried out at schools, showing a dosing poll used the measure the height of the children as well as the pills that are given through pharmaceutical donations. Mr. Campbell held up a large jar of worms, demonstrating the amount of worms passed by a child after participating in mass drug administration and clearly proving the significant health and wellbeing benefit of treatment.

As a proud Canadian, Mr. Campbell encouraged Canada to become a partner in combatting NTDs.

If you’d like to know more about our roundtable, or ask how we can present at your group or association, please contact us.