By IRNA,
Geneva : The World Health Organization will launch its first global report on neglected tropical diseases followed by commitment announcements from WHO’s major partners.
WHO said that the report contains first time evidence on the epidemiology, economic burden and costs of interventions for 17 neglected tropical diseases(1). These diseases, which are endemic in 149 countries worldwide and threaten the health of millions of people.
IRNA reporter in Geneva said that Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO Dr Lorenzo Savioli, Director, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases
Sir Roy Anderson, Chair, Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Neglected Tropical Diseases delivered statements about the launch of the first global report on neglected tropical diseases at WHO Headquarters Executive Board Room, Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday.
The media would also interview WHO technical experts, including Dr Lorenzo Savioli, Director of the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases in the nearby India Room immediately after the launch of the global report.
The report focuses on: Buruli ulcer disease (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection), Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), cysticercosis, dengue, dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), echinococcosis, endemic treponematoses, foodborne trematode infections, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy (Hansen disease), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), rabies, schistosomiasis (bilharziasis), trachoma, and soil-transmitted helminthiases.