Memento Preis is an alliance that includes MSF German, BukoPharma Kampagne, DAHW- German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Aid and Bread for the World, whose main aim is to draw attention to neglected diseases that have little investment in their research and development. Since 2014 it has been awarded for special commitment to combating neglected diseases in the categories of Research and Development, Political Will, and Journalism.
This year’s Memento 2024 award ceremony took place on November 13, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. The Media prize went to author Rike Uhlenkamp and photographer Rainer Kwiotek who will travel to Ghana to study the effects of the decriminalization of suicide. Professor Michael Ramharter received the Research Prize for his work on LoaLoa infections in West and Central Africa. He and his German-Gabone research team are working on a better understanding of the disease and development of new drugs and diagnostics.
Our Executive Director Dr. Denis Kibira delivered the keynote speech at the award ceremony and his focus was on ‘Challenges and opportunities on Access to medicines in Africa’. He shed light on the pressing challenges in accessing medicine in Africa. Governments have failed to effectively fund health systems set up by colonial masters leaving the bulk of healthcare expenditure in the hands of donors and individuals. Local pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of the answers to African health self-sufficiency. However, support is needed to grow Africa’s manufacturing capacity focusing on more partnerships and less donations in terms of strengthening infrastructure and human resource development.