How Neglected are Neglected Diseases? A Year After the London Declaration

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) comprise some of the world’s oldest public health challenges. From Guinea worm to river blindness, they affect 1.4 billion people around the world. In January 2012, the World Health Organization published a roadmap setting targets for the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 17 NTDs. The London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases was put forth immediately thereafter, asking governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to accelerate progress on the control or elimination of 10 of these diseases by 2020. Though recent reports show that the NTD burden has been reduced, significant challenges still remain, particularly in diseases like schistosomiasis. Infecting 240 million people worldwide, schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases, second only to malaria. This panel session will examine the overall global status of NTDs, and the recently renewed focus and global efforts to fight schistosomiasis.

About the Speaker(s)

Welcome:
Dr. Lisa O'Sullivan, Director, Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health, New York Academy of Medicine

Keynote:
Dr. Stefan Oschmann General Partner and Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Discussants:
Dr. Mary T. Bassett Program Director, African Health Initiative, Doris Duke Foundation Dr. Neeraj Mistry Managing Director, Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Moderator:
Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio Senior Partner, Rabin Martin

Registration Information

Cost: Free, but advance registration is required.

For more information and to register, click here.