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The activities conducted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones to lobby for Noma have increased the visibility of the disease not only in those countries affected, but also among Swiss and international authorities and the private sector.
During their visits on site in Africa, the two co-founders were able to establish tight relations at the highest levels with the authorities of the countries affected by Noma. They have met with the Presidents of Niger and Senegal, the First Lady of Burkina Faso as well as with several prime ministers and ministers of health, most of whom had never heard of this disease.
Piccard and Jones have also had the opportunity to plead the cause of Noma to influential persons such as the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator, the Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Minister of Economy.
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Likewise, their participation in international conferences such as the UN World Summit for Social Development (2000), the Crans Montana Forum (2000), the World Economic Forum at Davos (2000-2006), the International Conference on Oral Health organized by the International Dental Federation (IDF) in 2004 in Kenya, the International North-South Media Festival in 2004 and 2006, has made it possible to maintain Noma at the forefront of international issues, raise awareness about the disease and explain the work of the Foundation.
Bertrand Piccard’s role as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador has also played an important role in the Foundation’s activities to plead the cause.
The co-founders also hold conferences/seminars and make public appearances, particularly in the private sector, either personally or on behalf of Winds of Hope, to discuss the general problem of Noma and the specific activities of the Foundation. In doing so, they have been able to directly reach hundreds of thousands of people in the financial, economic, political and medical circles. |
