From left: Dr. Katherine Bliss, Dr. Neeraj Mistry, President Alvaro Arzú, Carl Meacham, Dr. Mirta Roses

On Tuesday, the Global Network and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a panel to welcome three new Neglected Tropical Disease Special Envoys. His Excellency, President Alvaro Arzú Irigoyen of Guatemala (1996-2000), His Excellency, President Ricardo Lagos Escobar of Chile (2000-2006) and former Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr. Mirta Roses Periago have joined the effort to eliminate NTDs in the Americas and in other regions of the world where these diseases cause suffering and promote the cycle of poverty.

Check out the press release to read how the new Special Envoys will use their political voice and the technical expertise to reach regional and global elimination targets.

Tuesday’s event was well attended, and a lively discussion was had amongst panelists and with the audience. President Arzú and Dr. Roses participated, along with Carl Meacham, director of the CSIS Americas Program, and Dr. Neeraj Mistry, managing director of the Global Network.  The discussion was led by Dr. Katherine Bliss, senior associate with CSIS Global Health Policy Center. You can watch the full discussion below and at the event page here.

The conversation was extended to a broad audience using social media. The Global Network and others live tweeted from the event, sharing a few gems from the panelists. Here are a few excerpts from the Twitter conversation:

The new Special Envoys join the efforts of current NTD Special Envoy, His Excellency, President John A. Kufuor of the Republic of Ghana (2001-2009). Check out this recent blog post to read about how President Kufuor is paving the way for increased NTD bilateral engagement and advocacy.