MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 May 2025 Departmental update Neglected tropical diseases centre-stage at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

Source: World Health Organisation

Sunday 18 May 2025 10:30−13:30
 
Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
Snakebite envenoming : reaching our 2030 targets
 
Host: Ministry of Health, Kenya
The objective of this meeting is to build visibility for snakebite on the global health agenda
 
Sunday 18 May 2025
17:30−19:30
 
Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
 
 
Shared progress: how collaborative philanthropy can accelerate country-led health goals
 
Host: Mohammed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity
Under the theme Shared Progress: How Collaborative Philanthropy Can Accelerate Country-led Health Goals, the reception will convene country representatives; global health leaders; philanthropic organizations; and multilaterals to discuss how countries and donors can work collaboratively to forge new pathways for global health progress. 
Monday 19 May 2025
13:00−14:30
 
Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI), La Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106
Protecting Progress: Integration for Infectious Disease Elimination in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
 
Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)
The global health landscape is undergoing tectonic shifts, driven largely by the recent significant changes in traditional donor priorities. This, compounded by ongoing challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises threatens to erode decades of progress in eliminating preventable infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Given this new reality, integration—both across disease programs and within broader health and development efforts—has never been more urgent.
Tuesday 20 May 2025
08:00−10:00
 
Hôtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41
Health financing : what now ? What next? Insights from malaria, dengue & NTDs
 
Hosts: Health Finance Coalition (HFC); Malaria No More; and the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD)
The world is witnessing major shifts in the global health landscape. Among these, the decrease in donor funding for climate-sensitive infectious and tropical diseases on the one hand, and the explosive growth of health threats such as arboviruses including dengue, as well as the persistent threat of malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on communities worldwide are likely to be among the most defining factors of future health policy.
Tuesday 20 May 2025 17:00−19:00
 
Pavillon Gallatin, Domaine de Penthes, Route de Pregny 26
5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated and Counting
 
Hosts: Mectizan Donation Program, Task Force for Global Health
The event will celebrate the tremendous progress made towards the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, notably the 5 billion ivermectin (Mectizan) treatments that have been donated. Since 1987 MSD and the Mectizan Donation Program have provided Mectizan to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis worldwide.
Tuesday 20 May 2025 18:00−20:00
 
Hôtel Président Wilson, Quai Wilson 47
Skin diseases as a global public health priority
 
Hosts: International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin), International League of Dermatology Societies (ILDS), Anesvad Foundation, Health Diplomacy Alliance
The event will discuss the importance of addressing skin diseases as a public health problem, and will provide critical discussions on the groundbreaking WHA resolution, “Skin Diseases as a Global Health Priority”.
Wednesday 21 May 2025
08:00−09:30
 
Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
 
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships to fight VBDs, NTDs, and Emerging Infectious Diseases
 
Hosts: Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Assoc. (JPMA), Permanent Mission of Japan, IFPMA
As the field of global health undergoes significant transformation, we aim to raise global awareness of the challenges and solutions related to infectious diseases such as VBDs, NTDs, and emerging infectious diseases that have long affected LMICs. As part of this effort, we would like to overview the progress made and the challenges we face, as well as showcase strategic initiatives/contributions in this field by governments, private sector and international organizations
Wednesday 21 May 2025
09:00−13:30
 
Campus Biotech Innovation Park, Avenue de Sécheron 15
Economics of elimination and NTDs
 
Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)
The event will initiate an International Economics Working Group (IEWG) dialogue, share current work, and explore collaboration on the economics of elimination and neglected tropical diseases.
Wednesday 21 May 2025
12:00−15:00
 
Geneva Press Club,
Domaine de Penthes,
Chemin de l’Impératrice 18
Accelerating NTD elimination through country-driven efforts and cross-border collaboration
 
Hosts: Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), African Union, END Fund, DNDi
 
Member State Leadership: Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
The purpose of the meeting is to share progress and celebrate successes of NTD elimination milestones, share cross-border collaboration examples, celebrate the endorsement of cross-border agreements and a Call for Action which will inspire and further enhance cross-border and multi-disease collaboration to accelerate progress towards global disease elimination targets. Ministers of Health of Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda will sign a MoU to End VL in Africa. The event will stress the importance of country ownership and strategies to reach NTD public health target and to mitigate the risk of losing the gains made over the past decades, highlighting the opportunity of the implementation of the proposed resolution on skin diseases at WHA78. A signature of an MoU for Visceral Leishmaniasis in East African countries will take place during the ceremony.
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00−20:00
 
Hõtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41
Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDs
 
Hosts: The END Fund, DEVEX
The event will be hosted by Kate Warren EVP and Executive Editor, Devex and Dr Solomon Zewdu, CEO, The END Fund. The roundtable dinner will bring together a select group of 10–12 senior stakeholders from the private sector, philanthropy, global health, policy and international financing organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue , enabling key decision-makers to share insights, align priorities and identify actions to accelerate progress in combating NTDs. Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDS
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−19:30
 
Colladon Parc Restaurant,
Chemin Colladon 5,
Petit-Saconnex
Reception for countries endemic for dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) and in pre-certification Guinea
 
Hosts: Ministry of Health, Chad and The Carter Center
The reception will be an occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress toward eradication, rally behind the WHA Resolution being voted on, reflect on commitments made in the Abu Dhabi Declaration and N’Djamena Commitment, and look ahead to what remains to achieve Guinea worm eradication by the year 2030.
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−20:30
 
The International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum, Geneva, Avenue de la Paix 17
“A seat at the table” – art installation
 
Hosts: Gilead Sciences, Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Program in Global Primary Health Care, International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) and UNAIDS
Frontline AIDS in collaboration with the Female Genital Schistosomiasis Integration Group (FIG), Education as a Vaccine, Alliance for Public Health, and LVCT Health will contribute artwork to this important event. It will feature stories and an art installation that bring the importance of people-centered care into focus— addressing the imbalance of power in which people with lived experience of disease are too often left out of health system decision-making.
Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−21:00
 
Hôtel Mandarin Oriental,
Quai Turrettini 1
Ministerial summit: REACH network
 
Hosts: Nigeria, REACH Network (Chairs: Minister Muhammad Ali Pate [Nigeria] and Professor Samba Sow [former Minister of Health, Mali])
The event is convened to reinforce ministerial commitment from existing REACH countries and expand the network’s impact by engaging potential new member countries. It will emphasize integrated, equitable and evidence-driven child survival strategies, particularly mass drug administration of azithromycin
Thursday 22 May 2025
08:00−10:00
 
Hôtel Président Wilson,
Quai Wilson 47
Surveillance and innovation for dengue & arboviruses: international unity to avert future health emergencies
 
Host: the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases
The event will focus on updates on the progression of the arboviral threat worldwide (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Oropouche fever), will provide a platform for Member States to make statements on arboviruses experiences and collaborative surveillance strategies, will enable discussions among participants, will serve as a forum for exchange of best practices and networking among participants
Thursday 22 May 2025
12:00−14:00
 
Hôtel Intercontinental,
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 7−9
Innovation Meets Unity: Advancing Global Health Solutions for Africa
 
Host: Merck KGaA, Circle Diplomatique Genève
Global health leadership discussion to discuss diminished engagement with multilateral institutions which has resulted in weakened health systems in Africa and diminished international support

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