2024

20 December, 2024: Please check out our Year in Review video for 2024!

18 December, 2024: Take a look at the winning videos of our NTD Student and Young Ambassadorship media competition for 2024! Videos on the impact of innovation and technology on neglected tropical disease elimination by Ronnie Alawiye in English and Brianna Anderson in English and French won this competition.

12 December, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs hosted a webinar Sustaining Momentum: Canadian Partnerships for Global NTD Integration. This event was moderated by Alison Krentel, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa Chair, Canadian Network for NTDs. Guest Speakers included Senator Stanley Kutcher and Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, and Mellissa Hisko, Director for Global Immunization and Health Systems at Global Affairs Canada. Presenters included: 1. Sheila Shawa-Musonda, PhD, Senior Technical Specialist, African Union, Senior Partnerships Specialist, Uniting to Combat NTDs 2. Ronaldo Carvalho Scholte, PhD, Technical Advisor for Neglected Infectious Diseases, PAHO 3. Anna Wickenden, PhD candidate, Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, Effect Hope. We also shared our CNNTD Year in Review video, and the winning videos of our 2024 Student and Young Profession Ambassador media competition by Ronnie Alawiye and Brianna Anderson on the impact of innovation and technology on neglected tropical disease elimination.

18 November, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs attended an event hosted by Nutrition International and the Government of Canada exploring opportunities for strengthening Canada’s growing relationship within the African continent. Discussions focused on identifying ways Canada can leverage, expand and coordinate its investments in Africa across nutrition, health and education sectors.

6 November, 2024: the Canadian Network for NTDs presented at a Webinar on NTD Advocacy and Policy hosted by FESTMIH.

27 October, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs presented our NTD Research Award 2024 to Dr. Claudia Duguay, for her winning paper published in PLOS Global Public Health titled Assessing risk factors for malaria and schistosomiasis among children in Misungwi, Tanzania, an area of co-endemicity: A mixed methods study.

26 October, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs presented at the Canadian Conference on Global Health in Vancouver, BC, to deliver a symposium on NTD elimination through and beyond displacement in collaboration with the Neglected Global Diseases Initiative, Sightsavers, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF’s) Canada and the Mycetoma Research Center.

22^nd October, 2024: Dr. Alison Krentel and Tina Lines from the Canadian Network for NTDs spoke with the Global Cooperation Caucus (an all-party caucus represented by Heather McPherson, Ariel Kayabaga, Stéphane Bergeron, Dave Epp, and Mike Morrice) to discuss the impact of climate change on human health and wellbeing ahead of COP29. Other speakers included Dr Bruce Aylward from the World Health Organization, and Danielle Kamtié, Leah Ressor-Keller and Beth Lorimer from Kairos Canada.

12-14 October, 2024: Dr. Alison Krentel, Chair of the Canadian Network for NTDs attended the World Health Summit in Germany, where she spoke at an informal dinner hosted by the German NTD Network on Canada’s role in NTD elimination globally, and attended sessions on climate change and NTDs, and Women’s health, featuring female genital schistosomiasis (FGS).

10^th October, 2024: Our Advocacy and Policy Officer attended the Cooperation Canada Futures Forum, and participated in workshops on the G7 Advocacy Agenda for 2025, and presentations and workshops on the triple nexus (humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding).

3 October, 2024: Our Advocacy and Policy Officer attended a ONE Canada and Afrifursa reception with a dialogue on a Canada-Africa Strategy with Minister Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, and President & CEO of ONE, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli.

3 October, 2024: A new report entitled ‘Advancing the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in French-speaking countries: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward for Sustainable Action’ was published by Uniting to Combat NTDs, ALMA and Speak Up Africa. The report highlights the unique opportunities within La Francophonie to leverage linguistic, cultural and historical ties for collective action and cross-border collaboration to more effectively combat NTDs. Dr. Alison Krentel submitted this French language video message for the report launch event. To see the full event and read the report in English and French, please visit this page.

2^nd October, 2024: CanWaCH published this collaborative piece that the Canadian Network for NTDs contributed to on Feminist, rights-based partnerships: a key to sustainable gender-transformative health outcomes.

1-3 October, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs Steering Committee members Dr. Khumbo Kalua (UBC) and Maneesh Phillip (Effect Hope) attended the NNN 2024 Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to discuss challenges to and solutions for NTD elimination. The theme this year was, “Collaboration for Change: Fostering Global Equity and Strengthening Community Engagement in NTDs.”

30 September, 2024: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) hosted its 61st Directing Council meeting in Washington, D.C. Alison Krentel, Chair of the CNNTD moderated two sessions on accelerating disease elimination in the Americas; one on practical strategies and the other on partnerships. The latter session guest speakers included Massimo Ghidinelli, Member of the Board Global Fund, Robert Matiru, Director of Programs, UNITAID, Emily Wainwright, Senior NTD Advisor for Strategy and Partner Engagement, USAID, Stuart Savage, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Canada to OAS, and Dina Isabel Choc, Health promoter, Ki’che Mayan Indigenous Community, Guatemala.

21 September, 2024: Steering Committee member Deborah Ola, joined other NTD youth advocates at CTM 2024 (The Conference on Tropical Medicine and Global Health in Germany) to share their work on NTDs. A video on youth initiatives globally was also created, which you can find here.

August 2, 2024: The Canadian Network for NTDs wrote a pre-budget Submission ahead of Budget 2025. We would invite you to read our blog here on our efforts to include NTDs in the Balance, and to review our final Pre-Budget Submission.

June 20, 2024: We hosted a webinar on Youth Action on Climate, Water and NTDs in partnership with the Canadian Association for Global Health’s climate change and global health working group.

2023

22 September 2023: We are so pleased to share that Canada has made a commitment to investment $15 million to eliminate trachoma in the Americas at UNGA78! Please see our press release here to learn more.

1 June 2023: The Canadian Network for NTDs hosted Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, WHO, in celebration of Canada’s one-year anniversary of its Kigali Declaration on NTDs endorsement.  Check out the events of the day in our blog Daring to See the End of NTDs.

14 May 2023: Apply to our New NTD Award! The Deadline has now been extended to May 14th at 12:00 am. This research award will recognize one outstanding NTD paper published in 2022 by any researcher or research team based at a Canadian academic or research institution. For more information, please review the full description of the award, and to apply, please go to the application form.

22-24 March 2023: The Canadian Network for NTDs attended the UN Water Conference at the UN Head Quarters in New York. Follow this link for reflections on this historic conference and what its potential contributions towards NTD elimination strategies.

10 February 2023: The Canadian Network for NTDs and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) partnered to host a webinar titled Research and Action to End Neglected Tropical Diseases. Here is the recording of this webinar.

31 January 2022: The Canadian Network for NTDs hosted its Steering Committee in Ottawa for a full-day Strategic Planning Session. Our new Strategic Framework will be posted soon.

30 January 2023: We always like to start each year BIG, with activities and events leading up to and on World NTD Day on January 30th! To learn more, please see our World NTD Day and International Development Week Webpage.

2022

7 October 2022: The Canadian Network for NTDs made a Pre-Budget Consultative submission to FINA ahead of the 2023 Federal Budget. This written submission followed an open virtual consultation on September 12, 2022. You can find our final Pre-Budget Consultation submission here.

17 August 2022: The Canadian Network for NTDs and WaterAid Canada have written a joint statement for World Water Week 2022 (August 23 – September 1), highlighting the critical role played by access to clean water and sanitation in the prevention and treatment of NTDs, and ensuring health for all by 2030. Please find the joint statement here. If you are a Canadian Civil Society Organization that would like to endorse this statement by August 23, 2022, you can do so here.

8 July 2022: Article following the Kigali Summit and Canadian Endorsement of the Kigali Declaration by Geoffrey P. Johnston Africa Leads Neglected Tropical Diseases Fight in the Kingston Whig Standard.

23 June 2022: The Kigali Summit for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases was held in Kigali, Rwanda, raising more than US$4.4 billon, with US$2.2 billion in domestic funding commitments to end malaria and NTDs by 2030. Of this, the Kigali Declaration for NTDs secured substantial commitments by donor and endemic country governments, pharmaceutical companies, philanthropy, and others that include over US $1.4 billion in financial commitments, 18 billion tablets donated by 9 industry partners and US $562 million in other health products. Here is a link to this day-long Kigali Summit event with artistic performances and incredible key-note speakers! Here is the Canadian Endorsement of the Kigali Declaration by the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, marking an historic moment for Canadian engagement in the global NTD movement!

22 June 2022: The Canadian Network for NTDs EIN Presswire Press Release: Global Affairs Canada to Make an Historic Announcement at the Kigali Summit for Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases

26 May 2022: The Canadian Network hosted a Students and Young Professionals NTD event: Effectively integrating NTDs into Global Health Strategies. Speakers included Kiera Liblik, Alistair Mukondiwa, Shomy Hasan Chowdhury, & moderated by Afzaa Rajabali. To learn more and to view the recording of this event, please click here.

11 February 2022: We teamed up with CAGH-ACSM to co-host an event titled Addressing NTDs for the Health of Women and Girls. This event highlighted the new WHO global policy guidelines on Deworming for Adolescent Girls and Women of Reproductive Age. You can find the recording of this event here.

3 February 2022: Article following World NTD Day by Geoffrey P. Johnston Neglected Diseases Pose Global Threat in the Kingston Whig Standard.

30 January 2022: The third annual World NTD Day was celebrated across Canada and globally with high levels of media and social network engagement. Here in Canada, we illuminated the CN and Calgary Towers and Niagara Falls. Please take a look at this brilliant video of illuminations for World NTD Day. More than 100 monuments were illuminated orange and purple to remind us of the WHO NTD Road Map goal of eliminating at least 1 NTD in 100 countries by 2030.

2021

25 November 2021: The Canadian Network for NTDs supported the coordination of a plenary at the Canadian Conference on Global Health titled “Water, worms and women’s health: intersecting partnerships in planetary health”. This event was moderated by Maximillian Seunik, with Margaret Gyapong, Hélène Carabin & Pamela Sabina Mbabazi as panelists.

4 November 2021: Check out the recording of an event the Canadian Network for NTDs hosted titled Exploring the Nexus of Equity, Poverty and NTDS. This event included presentations from Dr. Momar Ndao, Dr. Emily Jenkins, Dr. Marion Roche, Dr. Theresa Gyorkos, & Guillermo Robert De Arquer. We also introduced our new Student and Young Professional Ambassador for NTDs, Maëla Séguin!

25 August 2021: Read this opinion piece published in the Hill Times by The Chair of the Canadian Network for NTDs, Dr. Alison Krentel, on why Canada should invest in the prevention & treatment of NTDs globally.

3 August 2021: Want to contribute to the global NTD movement? Help us shape the Kigali Declaration for NTDs! Feedback is due on August 31st.

23 April 2021: CNNTD hosted a roundtable at the Senate of Canada on ‘Neglected tropical diseases: the missing piece for better health’. Speakers included:

• Dr. Mwele Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization
• William Campbell, Board Chair, The END Fund
• Dr. Georg Kippels, Member of the German Bundestag, Chair of the German Parliamentary Council Against NTDs
• Dr. Alison Krentel, Investigator at Bruyère Research Institute

30 January 2021: The second annual World NTD Day was celebrated across Canada with high levels of media and social network engagement. The CN Tower and Calgary Tower lit up to highlight people affected by NTDs.

28 January 2021: Karina Gould, Minister for International Development, and CNNTD participated in the virtual launch of the WHO road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030.

2020

15 – 19 November 2020: CNNTD members participate in 69th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

12 – 14 November 2020: Karlee Silver, Co-CEO of Grand Challenges Canada, and Alison Krentel provide comments at the open and closing plenaries to the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD).

4-6 November 2020: Dr. Theresa Gyorkos participated in WHO Scientific and Technical Advisory Group’s Working Group on Monitoring and Evaluation for Neglected Tropical Diseases.

28 – 29 October 2020: Dr. Theresa Gyorkos participated in the soil-transmitted helminthiases advisory council annual meeting.

7 August 2020: CNNTD submits a brief to the Standing Committee on Finance for Canada to invest in the elimination and control of NTDs.

29 July 2020: Canadians Alison Krentel and Priscilla Pangan participated in WHO webinar on how youth can contribute to achieving the NTD control and elimination targets.

25 June 2020: Parliamentary Secretary Kamal Khera MP participated in the ‘Power the Partnership: End the Neglect’ global virtual event celebrating the achievements in eliminating NTDs since 2012.

4 February 2020: CNNTD participated in “Go For The Gals” as part of International Development Week.

31 January 2020: Member of Parliament Scott Simms made a one-minute statement in the House of Commons in support of World NTD Day acknowledging Canadians who make an impact in the control of NTDs globally.

30 January 2020: The first annual World NTD Day was celebrated with a month-long social media campaign on #CanadiansEndingNeglect.

2019

20 – 24 November 2019: Members of CNNTD presented research at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

17 – 19 October 2019: CNNTD sponsored two sessions at the Canadian Conference for Global Health in Ottawa, Ontario. The theme of the conference was “Governance for Global Health: Power, politics and justice.”

3 – 6 June 2019: CNNTD participated in the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver. Highlights included a Pub Quiz on NTDs and a panel discussion on NTDs, featuring the First Lady of Burkina Faso, the Minister of Health for Uganda and the Director, Control of NTDs at WHO.

21 February 2019: Learning event on NTDs at Global Affairs Canada. Speakers included:

• Dr. Dirk Engels, Former Director for the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization
• Fernando Lavadenz, Senior Health Specialist at The World Bank
• Dr. Alison Krentel, Investigator at Bruyère Research Institute

20 February 2019: A Parliamentary Reception was co-hosted by CNNTD and the Multi-Party Global Health Caucus on HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria of the Parliament of Canada. The reception featured presentations by:

• Dr. Dirk Engels, Former Director for the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization
• Dr. Theresa Gyorkos, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Parasite Epidemiology and Control
• Dr. Alison Krentel, Investigator at Bruyère Research Institute

2018

21 November 2018: The Canadian Conference on Global Health included a panel discussion on “Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): The intersection of poverty reduction, equity and improved health for the most marginalized in the world”.

12 October 2018: Fifty-seven member nations of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie adopted the proposed resolution on neglected tropical diseases. Read the text of the resolution.