This week, actor Scott Wolf and Columnist Michael Gerson each gave a personal account of their recent trip to Senegal where they observed first-hand how U.S. Government (USG) funding is successfully fighting the scourge of malaria. The event, hosted by the Malaria No More Policy Center (MNMPC), included remarks by Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)—Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)—and, allowed Hill staff, Administration officials, and global health policy stakeholders to acknowledge the achievements to date and how important USG funding is for on-going malaria research and control efforts.
Source: MNMPC website
Wolf and Gerson accompanied former MNMPC Managing Director, Mark Green (who has just joined the U.S. Global Leadership Coaltion as its new Senior Director) on the trip and were invigorated by the Senegalese people they met on the ground. NTDs were not forgotten at the event and Global Network Managing Director Neeraj Mistry had a chance to chat with both Rep. Fortenberry and Rep. Payne to thank them for their support and interest in NTDs. Global Network plans to host a series of region specific NTD congressional briefings through the Malaria and NTD Caucus this year.
The March 1st reception was supported by ONE, Friends of the Global Fight, World Vision, Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa and the Malaria Vaccine Initiative, and Global Network.
Read more about this event here.