Over 500 researchers, academics, and policymakers are meeting in Kigali, Rwanda for the second International Conference on Neglected Tropical Diseases Research in Africa.
The three-day conference aims to bridge the gap between research and implementation, ensuring that knowledge translates into tangible impact in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
In her opening remarks, Noella Bigirminana, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to eradicating NTDs as a public health problem by 2030. She highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration through a One Health approach to achieve this ambitious goal.
“Rwanda is committed to increasing domestic resources allocated to NTD control interventions. Investing in research is critical for generating evidence-based strategies. I call for strengthened multi-sectoral collaboration through the One Health Approach, which will not only contribute to eliminating NTDs but also help achieve the WHO NTD Roadmap targets, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other continental and global strategic objectives,” DDG Bigirimana said.
Dr. Mosoka Papa Fallah, Deputy Director of the Africa CDC, underscored the timeliness of the conference, calling for leveraging cutting-edge technology to accelerate the elimination of NTDs.
“We are in an era of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, from the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine in just 12 months to advancements like the recent discovery by Japanese scientists of pathways to regenerate teeth at any age. Yet, despite these incredible achievements, 1.2 billion people in Africa and parts of Asia suffer daily from Neglected Tropical Diseases” Dr. Mosoka stated, as he posed two thought-provoking questions to all concerned actors:
. Does poverty serve as an invisible magnet that attracts NTDs?
. Do NTDs persist among the poor because they are poor, disempowered, and faceless?
These questions, he added, invite deeper reflection on the structural injustices and societal dynamics that perpetuate the burden of NTDs.
Rwanda has played a leading role in the fight against NTDs. In June 2022, on the sidelines the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, the Kigali Declaration on NTDs was made, with a call to action for increased investment in NTD elimination.
The country has made significant progress toward eliminating NTDs as a public health issue by 2030, in line with global commitments. Significant investments have been made in priority nine (9) endemic NTDs with Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (Intestinal Worms) and Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) being the most common and targeted for Preventive Chemotherapy.
This second convening is organized by the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) and the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre in collaboration. Held biennially, the conference serves as a unique platform to advocate for joint action among researchers, civil society, and policymakers to end NTDs across the continent. (End)