Teach to Reach Lightning Chat: Meet Thoko Elphick-Pooley who leads Uniting to Combat NTDs

Join us for a special Teach to Reach Lightning Chat on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Climate Change with Thoko Elphick-Pooley, Executive Director of Uniting to Combat NTDs. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 21 diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities. Despite their devastating impact on health and well-being, NTDs often receive less attention and resources compared to other global health priorities. Climate change is further exacerbating the spread and reach of many NTDs, posing new challenges for control and elimination efforts. Teach to Reach is a massive open peer learning platform that connects over 20,000 frontline health workers from more than 80 countries to share experiences, learn from each other, and co-create solutions to pressing health challenges. Request your invitation to Teach to Reach https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach In this Lightning Chat, Thoko Elphick-Pooley will share insights from Uniting to Combat NTDs' work to raise the profile of NTDs, mobilize resources, and support country leadership in the fight against these diseases. Learn more: The Geneva Learning Foundation and Uniting to Combat NTDs Partner to Amplify Voices of Local Health Workers in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases https://unitingtocombatntds.org/en/news-and-views/the-geneva-learning-foundation-and-uniting-to-combat-ntds-partner-to-amplify-voices-of-local-health-workers-in-the-fight-against-neglected-tropical-diseases/ We will discuss why NTDs are a critical global health priority, and how climate change is impacting transmission and control. This Lightning Chat is a preview of the critical climate change and health topics that will be explored in-depth at the 10th Teach to Reach global conference on 20-21 June 2024. We will explore questions such as: * What makes NTDs particularly sensitive to climate impacts, and what is needed to build resilience in affected communities? * How can amplifying the voices and experiences of frontline health workers help close the $2 billion funding gap for NTDs? * What role can health workers play in driving locally-led action, innovation, and integration of NTD services into primary health care? * How can we combat stigma and ensure no one affected by NTDs is left behind? Thoko will also reflect on how partnerships with peer learning networks like Teach to Reach, which connects over 20,000 health workers across more than 80 countries, can help inform and strengthen the global NTD response. Teach to Reach offers a unique opportunity for dialogue between global experts and health workers who are both eyewitnesses and first responders to the effects of climate change on the communities they serve. Read the blog post by Luchuo E. Bain and Reda Sadki about the epistemic significance of health worker knowledge https://redasadki.me/2024/06/03/klepacs-scoping-review-of-climate-change-malaria-and-neglected-tropical-diseases-what-about-the-epistemic-significance-of-health-worker-knowledge/ By amplifying the voices of health workers and defying boundaries of geography and hierarchy, Teach to Reach aims to challenge the epistemic injustice that has long plagued global health and ensure that climate and health solutions are grounded in local realities. Climate change is a threat to the health of the communities we serve: health workers speak out at COP28 https://redasadki.me/2023/12/11/climate-and-health-health-workers-trust/ Investing in the health workforce is vital to tackle climate change: A new report shares insights from over 1,200 on the frontline https://redasadki.me/2023/12/01/investing-in-the-health-workforce-is-vital-to-face-climate-change-a-new-report-shares-insights-from-over-1200-on-the-frontline/ Join us at Teach to Reach 10 to be part of this urgent conversation on accelerating action at the nexus of climate change and health to safeguard the wellbeing of children and communities worldwide.