Rethinking the fight against neglected tropical diseases

At this year's conference of the NGO Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NNN) in Kampala, FAIRMED, together with its partner organizations CBM Christoffel Blindenmission (CH, Global, and UK), WI-HER, and HANDS, moderated a workshop on how the values of inclusion and dignity can be better integrated into programs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Ferdinand Mou (left), our Country Coordinator for projects in Cameroon, presented various examples from Cameroon and Nepal.

This moment of exchange and shared learning included a contribution from Ferdinand Mou, our Country Coordinator for projects in Cameroon. He presented examples of local interventions from Nepal and Cameroon that gave communities a voice and addressed the realities of stigma and exclusion associated with NTDs.

“On this basis, participants then worked together on case studies based on real-life situations that illustrated people's perspectives and experiences of exclusion and stigmatization, before applying simple, existing, and readily available tools to develop more inclusive solutions to the complex challenges facing NTD programs,” summarizes Vanessa Konaté, our Programme Officer for Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

Transforming the fight against NTDs

At this year's NNN Conference, NGO staff, researchers, and political decision-makers from over 50 countries discussed the topic of “Sustainable Innovations for Impact – Transforming the Fight Against NTDs.” The workshop was moderated by FAIRMED together with CBM Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM Global Disability Inclusion, CBM Schweiz and CBM UK), WI-HER and HANDS.