Call for Participants

〈Abstract〉

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infectious diseases primarily affecting impoverished populations in tropical and subtropical regions. Caused by various pathogens—protozoa, helminths, bacteria, and viruses—NTDs include conditions like lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, leprosy, rabies, dengue, leishmaniasis and snakebite envenoming. These disease conditions often cause chronic pain, disability, and disfigurement, significantly impacting quality of life in impoverished communities. They are exacerbated by poor sanitation, limited healthcare access, and poverty. Global efforts, including mass drug administration and improved treatment, are ongoing as one of the biggest global health programmes for controlling and eventually eliminating these diseases, which remain largely underfunded and overlooked compared to other health issues.

On the week of 16 September 2024, some of the country champions leading elimination and control of NTDs in the Pacific (Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea) will be visiting Tokyo, together with key partners supporting their efforts. Taking their presence in Tokyo as an opportunity, an informal get-together is organized to hear their experience, motivations, challenges and priorities in the fight against NTDs from various stakeholder perspectives and discuss how we can jointly strengthen partnership to eliminate and control NTDs in Japan.  

〈Date & Time〉 

 Thursday, September 19, 2024, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM （Tokyo, UTC +09:00）

〈Venue〉 

Hybrid Format

A. In Person: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 

(Short walk from Akasaka-mitsuke Station on Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Ginza Line) 

 
B. Online: Zoom

〈Admission〉 

 Free (Pre-registration is required.) 

〈Agenda〉 

 Overview – NTDs in Asia Pacific – situation, gaps and partnership 

〈Speaker〉

• Aya Yajima: Regional Advisor (NTDs), WHO SEARO
• Dr Kazim Hizbullah Sanikullah: NTD Team Lead, WHO WPRO

Eliminating and controlling NTDs: Why? How? – Voice from countries 

〈Speaker〉

• Fasihah Taleo: WHO Vanuatu and George Taleo, Vanuatu Health Consultant, Bridges to Development and former Director General for Vanuatu Ministry of Health
• Mary Yohogu: NTD Program Manager, Department of Health, Papua New Guinea

 Why supporting elimination and control of NTDs? – Motivation and perspectives from partners 

〈Speaker〉

• Bridge to Development – Julie Jacobson, Co-founder and former head of NTDs in Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales – Susana Vaz Nery, Professor
• Eisai Co Ltd. – Miwa Jindo, Director, and Wei Wang, Senior Associate, Sustainability Department
• Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) – Kaori Nakatani, Japan Director and Midori Morioka, External Relations Manager
• Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) - Ngozi Erondu, Technical Director
• Uniting to Combat NTD – Stuart Halford, Director of Resource Mobilisation and Advocacy and Marc Wormald, Senior Policy Advisor 
• NTDs Youth Organization – Ryota Todoroki, Co-founder and CEO

 Discussion – how can we strengthen partnership for NTDs in Japan? 

 Details: A flyer with speakers and schedule can be viewed here. 

〈Registration〉 

 Please register using this Google Form. Within 30 minutes, you will receive an email indicating that your registration is complete. If you do not receive an email, your registration may not have been successful; therefore, please register again. 

Please register again.
https://forms.gle/okm9MbCRo6ZVe3jc6