Neglected Tropical Diseases: Gates Celebrates Industry Contribution, Chan Concurs

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Five years after health institutions and actors including pharmaceutical companies endorsed the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases, meant to support the World Health Organization to control and eradicate 10 specific diseases by 2020, new commitments were announced today (18 April) in Geneva.

The Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) coalition, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is organising the NTD Summit 2017, from 19-22 April. The Uniting to Combat NTDs coalition was set up to fulfil the London Declaration‘s commitments.

Today, an event hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation celebrated the progress made on the declaration and praised the efforts carried out by endorsers of the London Declaration, and in particular pharmaceutical companies.

The London Declaration concerns the following diseases: Chagas disease, Guinea worm disease, human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis or river blindness, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, trachoma and visceral leishmaniasis – a list of unfriendly names for debilitating health conditions mostly affecting poor populations in developing countries.

Source: Intellectual Property Watch (link opens in a new window)

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