September: Participation in the ILEP Advisory Panel Meeting and NNN Conference in Rwanda
In September, Al Kadri, accompanied by Kerstin for interpretation, attended an ILEP Advisory Panel meeting in Rwanda, combined with the 17th Annual Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN) Conference, which took place in Kigali from September 29 to October 1, 2026.
The conference brought together 350 delegates from more than 50 countries. Several sessions focused on leprosy, while integration was the main overall theme. The participation of people affected by NTDs played a major role, with delegates affected by various diseases actively contributing to the discussions.
During the ILEP Advisory Panel meeting, the workplan and Terms of Reference (ToR) for the coming years were discussed and finalised. A meeting with the ILEP Technical Commission (ITC) was also held, and both sides supported more frequent exchanges in the future.
The Advisory Panel visited eastern Rwanda, where members visited a health centre, met with persons affected by leprosy for a discussion, and visited several people affected by leprosy in their homes. Al Kadri observed that living conditions were considerably more challenging than in Indonesia and expressed hope that a people’s organisation for persons affected by leprosy could be established in Rwanda.
Overall, the events provided valuable opportunities for networking and exchange. We were able to reconnect with friends and colleagues from around the world, gain new inspiration, and follow up on existing ideas and initiatives.
Many thanks to ILEP for making this trip possible.
