10. Oktober 2026 Rede der Bundesentwicklungsministerin Reem Alabali Radovan zur Verleihung des Virchow-Preises für Globale Gesundheit in Berlin

Es gilt das gesprochene Wort

„Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum,
Professor Peter Piot,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour to address you at this year’s Virchow Prize ceremony.

The Virchow Prize for Global Health – and the foundation behind it – play a vital role in keeping global health high on the political agenda. They honour those who drive lasting change for improving people’s lives.

Fifty years ago, a previously unknown, deadly disease emerged in the small village of Yambuku, in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It spread terribly fast, causing heavy symptoms with intense pain and severe internal and external bleeding. It left whole communities in shock and fear.

Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum investigated the outbreak in the field and collected clinical samples. In a laboratory in Antwerp, Peter Piot worked on identifying and characterising the virus.

Two scientists, collaborating across continents under very different conditions, were connected by a common purpose: to defeat this outbreak. And to understand and respond effectively to infectious diseases.

The disease of 1976 would later become known as Ebola virus disease. And the dedicated work of Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum and Peter Piot has become a successful collaboration.

This year, the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And once again, the outbreak has placed communities and health workers, governments and entire health systems under strain – even more so in this situation of continued crisis.

And once again, this shows, how essential strong and effective international cooperation is in responding to such outbreaks.

So what can your journey, Professor Muyembe-Tamfum and Professor Piot, teach us about global health and international cooperation? It is a reminder that there is still much to learn – and, importantly, to put into practice. I see three key lessons:

First, global health security starts with local leadership and capacities. Effective pandemic preparedness requires tailored solutions that reflect local realities, and a genuinely countryled strategy. When Ebola first appeared, it was people on the ground who confronted it: Congolese health workers, local authorities, communities. It was a young Congolese researcher – Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum – who listened to the people at the centre of the outbreak, recognized the threat and decided
to act.

The second key point is: If we want to succeed on global health, we need strong international partnerships – based on shared responsibility, mutual trust and a commitment to working as equals. In 1976, the clinical samples were examined and identified by Professor Piot and his colleagues in Europe. Their findings on the nature of the Ebola virus helped shape responses to that outbreak and to subsequent outbreaks on the African continent. At the same time, experience from African outbreaks informed health strategies around the world – continuing to do so to this day.

Progress depends on exchange and cooperation between South and North, between public administrations and researchers, between local, regional and international stakeholders.

In German development cooperation, our aim is to strengthen precisely those types of partnership. We support global health organizations and initiatives such as the Vaccine Alliance Gavi or the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

And we also have longstanding partnerships with local organizations and communities in crisis-affected regions, including church-based organizations. This builds trust, and enables all partners to work closely together when a crisis hits.

This brings me to my third point: Prevention starts long before a crisis takes hold – you all know this better than anyone. It requires long-term commitment and sustained investment, including between outbreaks.

For effective prevention and preparedness, we need resilient health systems. Better coordination and surveillance. Trained health workers. Laboratories, regional manufacturing and routine immunization.

Through our development cooperation, Germany invests in all of that. And we will continue to strongly advocate for Universal Health Coverage, and sexual and reproductive health and rights – even though budgets are tight and others are withdrawing from cooperation in the field of global health. Because investing in prevention costs far less than responding to crises – it is the smarter choice.

Professor Muyembe-Tamfum and Professor Piot, you have made a lasting investment in global health yourselves: through your lifelong commitment, you have helped protect people from infectious diseases such as Ebola and HIV/Aids. Your outstanding scientific work, leadership and personal dedication have brought about significant advances for global health. You are a real inspiration for the global health community.

So let us all learn from your journey and jointly work towards better health for all.

Thank you.“