May 22, 2015
By: Sarah Marchal Murray, Senior Vice President
We strive every day to put authentic, humble, and proactive collaboration at the center of the END Fund’s work. Part of living that pledge is ensuring we share the stories of the many who make up the burgeoning NTD success story.
Our 2014 annual report is just one missive from a particular moment in time, capturing briefly the partnerships and progress made together. It is a moment to take a step back and review what we have learned and created together during the 365 days that make up last year. But possibly even more important, it is a chance to share these partnerships with those not yet aware of the opportunity to be a part of the journey, and encourage each of you to seize the moment to tell us what more we can do, what we haven’t thought of, or simply put, engage.
The simply complex work and discreet challenges that were tackled by the front line health workers, ministry of health colleagues, and implementing partners during this past year’s MDA campaigns inform our every action. The compassionate and steadfast commitment of the pharmaceutical companies inspires us to act swiftly to encourage others to join in. Philanthropists who continue to innovate and incubate new ideas and ways of confronting social problems that perplex markets and governments motivate us to critically think and ask “why not now, and if not us then who?” We remain honored and grateful to be playing whatever small role we can in the orchestration of our collective successes.
A recent article highlighted the “birth” of the acronym “NTDs” and the role of many to get us to this pivotal tipping point in the movement to put an END to these diseases of neglect. Sharing this piece (and others like it) is a driving motivation for launching Engaging Noteworthy Dialogue later this month. We hope you will find the posts full of infectious thoughts and become avid contributors as well as readers.
I remain honored to be able to add my personal and professional commitment to the many who have lent their time, talents, and treasures towards ending the neglect that these diseases of poverty represent. For all you have done to make our 2014 annual report possible, I humbly say “thank you and please enjoy reading.”