"President Kufuor described NTDs as silent killers which afflicted some of the world's poorest people making them anemic, blind, or paralyzed and thus preventing children from attaining their full potentials in school and adults from being highly productive at the workplace."
President Kufuor, Special Envoy for the Global Network of NTDs, was speaking to members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the Norwegian Parliament on the second leg of his European advocacy tour to create more awareness and support for the diseases.
The former President commended Norway for their lead role in support of the NTDs but said a more concerted effort was needed between public and private institutions to help to eradicate the diseases found in the poorest part of the world.
"All that is needed is 50 cents per individual per year to make these diseases a thing of the past. This is not asking too much and believe if we put our minds to it we can make it happen," the said of the fight against River Blindness, Elephantiasis, Snail Fever, Trachoma, Whip worm, Round worm and Hook worm infections.
Present at the meeting included, Ms Marie Erikson Soreide, Chair of the Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs Mr Dagfinn Haybraten, Parliamentary Leader of the Christian Democratic Party and Chair of GAVI, a public-private global health partnership committed to saving children's lives through immunization and Ms Eva Kristin Hansen, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.
Before coming to Oslo, Former President Kufuor had interacted with members of the German Parliament and pharmaceutical companies in Berlin,on on the need for public - private - partnership in the push for total elimination of NTDs.
He also held discussions with former German President Horst Kohler, on varied world issues including the the NTDs.
Former President Kufuor returns home on Tuesday, 2nd October 2012.
Signed:
Frank Agyekum
Spokesperson / Special Aide
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