Honourable senators, I rise to draw our attention to the scourge of neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs, terrible illnesses which affect almost two billion of the poorest and most disadvantaged people globally and which can be largely eliminated with available treatments and prevention. With concerted global effort, we can be successful; without concerted effort, these diseases will continue unchecked, creating even more poverty, disadvantage and disparity.

NTDs include but are not limited to elephantiasis, a swelling of limbs due to a parasitic worm infection; trachoma, a bacterial infection causing blindness; intestinal worms that cause anemia and stunted growth; leprosy, another bacterial illness which causes disfigurement and blindness.

For these and other NTDs, effective treatments are available including antibiotics, ivermectin, antifungal medications and others. Better personal and community sanitation helps prevent the spread of these diseases.

Global initiatives are underway with notable success; however, the pandemic has significantly slowed progress. Global partnerships that include the World Health Organization, governments, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry and civil society organizations have had a great impact in many parts of the world. Some NTDs such as Guinea-worm disease and river blindness have been eliminated or substantially reduced over the last decade.

January 30 was World NTD Day, raising awareness about these terrible yet treatable illnesses and reinvigorating the global community in conquering them. In June 2022, Commonwealth heads of state will be meeting in Rwanda. Hopefully, Canada, along with all other members of the Commonwealth, will sign on to the Kigali Declaration, promising to end NTDs altogether.

Great impact can be made with relatively little. For example, Canada, working through the Pan American Health Organization could, by itself, fund the elimination of blinding trachoma from the region of the Americas within five years. The estimated cost, less than $15 million; the impact, incredible.

The Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases has been a strong, science-driven advocate in the global fight against NTDs. Recently, three members of this chamber — Senators Boehm, Ravalia and myself — have joined an independent international group of parliamentarians addressing NTDs. Together with colleagues in the other place, we are nudging our government to step up to the plate and hit a home run by helping erase NTDs from the world.

We can do this if we act. I hope that every member of this chamber will support Canada becoming part of the promise of Kigali. Thank you, meegwetch.