From Zambian village to world stage Meet Precious Mukelabai – a woman who travelled outside her country, Zambia, for the first time this month. For that journey, she also obtained a passport for the first time in her life and travelled on a plane for the first time. Read more
Reaching people “beyond the end of the road” Dr Mwele Malecela, a health scientist from Tanzania, is taking up a leading position at the World Health Organization (WHO). We met her as she was transitioning into her new position at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more
Millions of dollars for neglected tropical diseases announced at star-studded Mandela concert Leading philanthropists as well as African and European governments have announced more than US$150 million to tackle neglected tropical diseases largely unknown in western countries, but which affect 1.5 billion people – or one in five on the planet. The over $150 million funding will unlock a total aid package worth many, many more times that sum thanks to the free donation of medicines from pharmaceutical companies. Read more
Tropical diseases pioneer retires – or does he? Tributes flowed in an oak-panelled Victorian lecture room in Liverpool, England, in early September to one of the pioneer fighters against tropical diseases. Colleagues, family and friends of Professor David Molyneux gathered in the historic room to celebrate his career and mark his retirement as Emeritus Professor (amongst other roles) of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Read more
Star-studded concert to shine a light on neglected tropical diseases The “Mandela 100” campaign seeks to mobilize USD $1 billion in new commitments for the world’s most marginalised people, with USD $500 million set to impact the lives of 20 million women and girls worldwide. These investments will be aimed at ending hunger and increasing access to good nutrition, ending neglected tropical diseases, reducing HIV transmission rates, ensuring every child receives a quality education, reforming and repealing sexist laws, providing funding for women’s health and family planning, and ensuring access to clean water and safe sanitation world wide. Read more
Pfizer recommits to eliminate blinding trachoma The pharmaceutical company Pfizer - through the International Trachoma Initiative - has recommitted its pledge to eliminate the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world, trachoma, by extending its donation of the preventive drug Zithromax® (azithromycin) to all those at risk through to 2025. Read more
“Huge Step Forward” for Health in the Francophonie Today, 57 countries committed to eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through the adoption of a resolution at the XVIIIe Summit of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF, or International Organization of the Francophonie). Read more