Managers from national leprosy programmes, along with representatives from ILEP organizations, are directing the upcoming efforts of the Operational Excellence working group. They travelled from afar to participate in the inaugural Operational Excellence meeting, held 6-7 December in Amsterdam.
It is winter in the Netherlands, and the weather is wet and stormy. Ten people from Benin, Brazil, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom are traveling from afar to attend the inaugural meeting of the Operational Excellence steering team in Amsterdam.
The group who traveled to Amsterdam represent the steering team, or the leaders of the Operational Excellence sub-groups. The chairs of the sub-groups are from national leprosy programmes. Pictured here is Dr. Taye Letta from the national leprosy programme in Ethiopia. Dr. Letta is also on the partnership’s leadership team.
Day 1: In small groups, the steering team discussed the many tasks ahead. The group will develop online tools that can help countries reduce leprosy and stigma, and will also offer support through a help desk. Working closely with the World Health Organization, this working group will also conduct peer-to-peer country assessments, and help countries develop visioning roadmaps to zero leprosy.
During the meeting, Erwin Cooreman and Rao Pemmaraju from the WHO Global Leprosy Programme gave a virtual presentation about the Global Leprosy Strategy and plans beyond. As key partners, they emphasized the importance to work together to build national capacity through aligned efforts. One example will be the collaboration between WHO and the Operational Excellence Working Group to conduct country assessments.
After a long day’s work, the group enjoyed a boat ride on Amsterdam’s canals and afterward, a delicious dinner at the culinary China Sea Palace, a floating restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam. Dr. Ibtissam Khoudri (Morocco) is pictured with Dr. Rabindra Baskota (Nepal).
Day 2: Members of the steering team debated about the various tasks and the way to operationalize all the upcoming tasks in 2019. They also discussed the timeframe, expected achievements and challenges the individual members anticipate. Guillermo Robert de Arquer (Lepra, UK) leads the discussion here.
After two days of intense planning, the Operational Excellence steering team is enthusiastic about the work ahead. The sub-groups with all the participants will launch in early 2019. The open call for the Operational Excellence working group remains open through 31 December.
After a hard day’s work, a boat ride led the team through the decorated canals of Amsterdam’s light festival. This annual event shows light art made by a wide range of international artists.