WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases

1. All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases Launch of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Report London, 6th November 2012 WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases World Health Organization, Geneva

2. Neglected Tropical Diseases common features A proxy for poverty and disadvantage Affect populations with low visibility and little political voice Do not travel widely Cause stigma and discrimination, especially of girls and women Have an important impact on morbidity and mortality Are relatively neglected by research Can be controlled, prevented and possibly eliminated using effective and feasible solutions Ethical duty

3. WHO report on neglected tropical diseases (2010) • The report focuses on 17 neglected tropical diseases and disease groups. There are 149 countries and territories where neglected tropical diseases are endemic, at least 100 of which are endemic for 2 or more of these diseases, and 30 countries that are endemic for 6 or more • WHO recommends five public-health strategies for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases: • expansion of preventive chemotherapy; • intensified case-detection and case management; • improved vector control; • appropriate veterinary public health measures; • provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

4. All of these examples, all of my personal experiences over the past five years, bring me to one overarching conclusion. Universal health coverage is the single most powerful concept that public health has to offer. Universal coverage is relevant to every person on this planet. It is a powerful equalizer that abolishes distinctions between the rich and the poor, the privileged and the marginalized, the young and the old, ethnic groups, and women and men. Universal health coverage is the best way to cement the gains made during the previous decade. It is the ultimate expression of fairness. This is the anchor for the work of WHO as we move forward. Best days for public health are ahead of us, says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret ChanDirector-General of the World Health Organization Address to the Sixty-fifth World Health AssemblyGeneva, Switzerland 21 May 2012

5. A roadmap for implementation, January 2012 11 eradication and elimination targets 7 intensified control targets By 2015 and 2020 “This roadmap represents the next step forward in relieving and, in many cases, finally ending the vast misery caused by these ancient diseases of poverty. … Working together in an innovative, flexible and cost-effective way, Private sector, Public sector, Partners … outside any formally structured partnership.” Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization

6. The NTD Roadmap was presented at a meeting on "Uniting to combat neglected tropical diseases: ending the neglect and reaching 2020 goals" with representatives of several Member States, Dr Margaret Chan, Mr Bill Gates and the CEOs of 9 pharmaceutical companies. London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases was endorsed during the meeting.

7. The key role of drug donations and Private sectorcommitment Drugs are donated for treatment, but what good do they do if cases are detected too late? Understanding this, the company donating the drugs also gives WHO the funds needed to support active screening…. Industry commitment continues because my staff took the company’s CEO and senior executives on a field trip to Africa last month. These executives saw the people, the illness, the lumbar punctures under the mango trees, the cases detected, and the medicines given. Seeing the people, being eye-to-eye with their misery, has great power to motivate the right kind of public-private partnership. Results build trust, and with trust, commitment escalates. Best days for public health are ahead of us, says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret ChanDirector-General of the World Health Organization Address to the Sixty-fifth World Health AssemblyGeneva, Switzerland 21 May 2012

8. Partner and Country commitments Inspired by the World Health Organization’s 2020 Roadmap on NTDs, we believe there is a tremendous opportunity to control or eliminate at least 10 of these devastating diseases by the end of the decade. • The World Health Organization acknowledges the important contribution • of the United Kingdom in Neglected Tropical Disease control/elimination • Home base for some of the most generous Drug Donating companies • Home base for multiple implementing agencies (UK Coalition against NTDs) • without whom the donated drugs would not make it to the targeted populations • DFID and USAID are the two major NTD Donor Countries To highlight the commitment of countries, the president of the WHA requested WHO DG to present a WHO resolution on all NTDs to be adopted at the next WHA in May 2013, with the support of numerous Member States Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, and Professor ThérèseN’Dri-Yoman, President of the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, at a technical briefing

9. Thank you