Tanzania’s Dr Winnie Mpanju-Shombusho will now lead the global advocacy efforts in the fight to end Neglected Tropical Diseases following her appointment as new board chair for Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases is a global advocacy organisation dedicated to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
A respected health leader, Dr. Mpanju-Shumbusho has more than two decades of experience in global health systems. She previously served as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Assistant Director General for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and NTDs until her retirement in 2016, leading WHO’s work in prevention, control, impact-mitigation, country support, inter-country collaboration and global partnerships.
She has also played a key role in mobilizing political commitment, resources and action needed to combat HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NTDs; and building resilient health systems including in the founding, governance, and efficacy of the Global Fund. Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Mpanju-Shumbusho said it is an honour to be appointed as Chair of Uniting to Combat NTDs.
“It has been my long-held belief that we can change the course of over one billion people who continue to be held back by these preventable and treatable diseases, many of them found in our African Continent. The opportunity to continue serving these individuals and communities was simply not something I could turn down. I am looking forward to working the team to help champion investment to ensure that our vision of a world where NTDs are no longer a threat to people’s lives becomes a reality. This is a really exciting time to be joining the organisation with a newly refreshed strategy focused on resource mobilisation and a busy year ahead to capitalise on opportunities for sustainable financing for NTDs,” she said.
