The policy team at the Global Network was busy this week taking the issue of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) up to Capitol Hill. Together with members of the NTD Roundtable, a group of global health partners committed to fighting NTDs, we co-sponsored an NTD staff briefing in the House of Representatives on Thursday May 8, and once again in the Senate on Monday May 12. The briefings were held to discuss the impact of USAID’s NTD Program, the significance of U.S. leadership in the fight against NTDs, the potential impact of the expanded FY14 funding of $100 million for NTDs, and the need for greater NTD R&D to address treatment gaps.
The House briefing was held the same day that USAID announced the delivery of its one billionth NTD treatment since the launch of its NTD Program in fiscal year 2006. USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health, Dr. Ariel Pablos-Méndez, recognized the occasion by visiting a mass drug administration site in Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Haiti. During the visit, Dr. Pablos-Méndez said “the power of committed partnerships” is a key ingredient in USAID’s successful NTD Program, which brings together ministries of health, implementing NGOs, and pharmaceutical companies to form the largest public-private partnership inthe Agency’s 50-year history.
Neeraj with His Excellency Maman Sidikou, Ambassador of Niger, at the House staff briefing
The Hill briefings were attended by representatives from key House and Senate committees, the NGO community, and the African diplomatic corps –including the Ambassador of Niger, His Excellency Maman Sidikou, and the Ambassador of Burkina Faso, His Excellency Seydou Bouda. Global Network Managing Director, Neeraj Mistry, provided opening remarks and moderated the event, and presentations were given by Dr. Achille Kabore of RTI, Andrea Rudolph of Médecins Sans Frontières and Rachel Cohen of DNDi. During the briefings, participants also viewed the END7 campaign’s , “Myanmar’s Moment.” The video highlights an END7-supported mass drug administration program in Myanmar.
Following the formal presentation in the House, the speakers and participants engaged in a lively discussion surrounding the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and intestinal worms, the efficacy of certain NTD medicines, the NTD legislation that Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) plans to introduce soon, and how best to educate and showcase the success of NTD programs to the African diplomatic community. Ambassador Sidikou of Niger re-iterated that success stories must be highlighted to encourage program expansion; Niger was one of USAID’s first five fast-track countries that were the original focus of the NTD Program in FY2006. Since then, USAID has distributed 115 million NTD treatments and Niger is on track to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2015.
Neeraj with His Excellency Seydou Bouda, Ambassador of Burkina Faso, at the Senate staff briefing
After the presentations in the Senate, the audience discussed advocacy for NTDs, what needs to be done to reach the WHO’s 2020 goals, and how to mix the need to use currently available tools to treat NTDs and the need to design new tools to improve or discover new treatments. Ambassador Bouda of Burkina Faso expressed gratitude for the great work that is being done in his country to fight NTDs; Burkina Faso is also a USAID fast-track country, and nearly 146 million treatments have been distributed since the NTD Program began operations.
The staff briefings were a great opportunity to demonstrate to Congress the success and effectiveness of NTD control and elimination programs. With the support of USAID, leading pharmaceutical companies, NGO partners and the commitment of NTD-endemic countries, we’re getting closer to controlling and eliminating NTDs worldwide.