23.06.2026

Summer Reception 2026 Highlights Global Responsibility for Health

photocredit: DNTDs

At the 2026 Summer Reception of the German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs), leading representatives from politics, science, and global health emphasized the importance of long-term international partnerships in combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Guest of honour H.E. Prof. Dr. Ohene Adjei, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Germany and an internationally renowned tropical medicine specialist, highlighted Ghana's remarkable achievements in eliminating and controlling several NTDs. He stressed that these successes have been made possible through strong health systems, early diagnosis, and sustained international scientific collaboration. Long-standing partnerships with German institutions, including the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP) in Bonn and Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg, have played a key role in strengthening research capacity and training health professionals.

The reception was held under the patronage of German Bundestag memberSascha van Beek, Chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Neglected Tropical Diseases, who underlined the importance of resilient health systems for global stability, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

The event was moderated by Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, Director IMMIP and Speaker of DNTDs, who has maintained a close research partnership with Prof. Adjei for more than 25 years. The collaboration began during Prof. Hörauf’s time at BNITM in Hamburg and continued after his move to IMMIP in Bonn. Together with partners at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), this long-standing scientific cooperation has contributed to major advances in research, capacity building, and training in the field of neglected tropical diseases.

Full article on the: German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) website.