Speak Up Africa, Sightsavers, Brands on a Mission, and REMAPSEN unite to highlight challenges of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa – Nsemkeka
From November 25 to 27, 2025, the 4th Media Forum will take place under the theme: Media Contribution to Positioning the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa.
For the success of this event, REMAPSEN can count on its strategic partners in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. Among these, one can cite Speak Up Africa. According to Mr. Papa Djibril Faye, Health Advocacy Officer at SUA, “The media have a predominant role to play in education, awareness-raising and resource mobilization” before adding: “Through this forum, we hope that REMAPSEN journalists will be equipped to strengthen media coverage around NTDs in Africa, thus becoming advocacy allies with accessible and factual narratives” he concluded.
In a video transmitted to the organizing committee and broadcast during the launch press conference on May 30th, Professor Myriam Sidibé, Founding President of Brands On a Mission (BOAM), the main partner of the REMAPSEN Awards, explained to the media the missions of her organization. According to Professor Myriam Sidibé, BOAM is an agency operating in health and sustainable development. “The mission of Brands On a Mission is therefore perfectly aligned with REMAPSEN’s objectives” she specified.
Regarding BOAM’s involvement in organizing the media forum and the 2025 Awards, it stems from the evidence that journalists can publish narratives to change behaviors. “We believe that narrative is one of the most powerful tools for changing behaviors and ultimately, systems. Through the REMAPSEN Awards, we are proud to celebrate and invest each year in the voices of African journalists, particularly young people who shape narratives that drive progress”.
Professor Myriam Sidibé also indicated that the partnership between Brands On a Mission and REMAPSEN falls within the framework of African Voices, which aims to amplify African solutions and valorize local champions who redefine what is possible in the fields of health, climate, and sustainable development, before concluding “BOAM expects from journalists a solution-oriented approach that highlights challenges and innovations emerging locally.”
Sightsavers’ Support
In his message, Mr. Simon Bush, Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases at Sightsavers headquarters in London, wrote: “Sightsavers is pleased to join the REMAPSEN journalists’ forum concerning the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) taking place in Abidjan. Although NTDs are preventable, they nevertheless continue to affect more than one billion people worldwide. Sightsavers therefore assists health ministries across Africa to control and eliminate five of these disabling diseases: trachoma, onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worms.
At a time when many recent advances in global health are threatened, journalists have an essential role to play in holding governments accountable for their commitments to NTD elimination. Journalists can also share the stories of people affected by NTDs to break the stigma associated with these diseases and encourage patients to come forward for treatment.” With the commitment of its partners, REMAPSEN can be assured of the success of the upcoming media forum on neglected tropical diseases and the REMAPSEN Awards endowed with the Michel Sidibé prizes.