Women Winning the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases: What women working in NTDs have to say on International Women’s Day
It’s International Women’s Day #IWD2026, and shared goals for 2026 are making women’s contributions more visible; promoting the inclusion of women in all their diversity, and pursuing equity in women’s engagement across sectors. The 2026 theme of ‘give to gain’ reminds us that intentional, everyday actions have the ability to advance gender equity, especially when we all take part.
To leverage the momentum of this special day, the Canadian Network for NTDs, the NTD Youth Initiative of the German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG) and the Federation of European Societies for Tropical Medicine and International Health (FESTMIH) are highlighting the results of a survey of women working in NTDs that emerging leaders Amaanat Gill and Leonie Maier have created, shared and analysed. 40 women from different countries around the world responded to the survey earlier this month, shedding light on their motivations, challenges and opportunities in the field of NTDs. We are sharing some advice that emerging leaders have for their peers in pursuing neglected tropical diseases as a career path.
Nigeria based emerging parasitologist Christianah Oki reminds other young women:
“I’m still young too, so we are figuring this out together. Stay curious, build strong technical skills, and don’t shrink your ambition. Seek mentors, ask bold questions, and take up space in rooms where decisions are made. In NTDs, compassion and competence together create lasting impact.”
Pakistan based emerging leader Hooria Amiri, Co-Founder of CAN 1.5°C [Climate Action & NTDs] encourages her peers to:
“…Start by listening to affected communities, learning from mentors, and finding ways to connect research, advocacy, and action. Your perspective as a young woman is valuable — use it to challenge assumptions, bring innovative ideas, and create spaces for others to participate. Seek mentors who believe in you, and don’t be afraid to step into leadership even when it feels daunting.”
Hillary Brooks, youth advocate in Ghana had advice for young women like herself “to be firm, passionate, and dedicated… Go out there and change the world.”
Many senior NTD leaders also responded to the survey, including some male allies. An anonymous seasoned female NTD Researcher and academic in Indonesia advises young women interested in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to:
“Stay curious and mission-driven. NTD work can be demanding and sometimes under-recognized, but its impact on vulnerable communities is profound. Let your sense of purpose sustain you, especially during challenging periods in research or fieldwork”.
In an ever-challenging global health ecosystem, we can remind each other of our shared mission and capacity to make meaningful contributions to the prevention, treatment and care for people living with and affected by neglected tropical diseases.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey, to help us share the experiences of women working in NTDs for International Women’s Day! Please see the beautiful graphics below and here in this PDF Document to read more about the survey results and reflections on the motivations, challenges and opportunities in working in neglected tropical diseases.
