67th World Health Assembly Neglected Tropical Diseases side event

Following the adoption of the WHA Resolution on NTDs, the Nigerian MoH hosted a side event on 22 May to highlight the importance of continued funding.

The 67th World Health Assembly took place from 19-24 May 2014 in Geneva with a side event on NTDs.

The 67th World Health Assembly took place from 19-24 May 2014 at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 3,000 delegates and high-level representatives from WHO's 194 Member States met to discuss key global health issues, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Following the adoption of the WHA Resolution on NTDs at last year's Assembly, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health hosted a side event on 22 May to emphasise the success of the integrated NTD programme in Nigeria and to highlight the importance of continued funding for health programme quality.

Side event panellists:

• Chair: Dr Maria Neira, Director, Public Health and the Environment Department, WHO
• Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, Nigeria
• Dr Brigit Okoeguale, Director of Public Health, Nigeria

• Dr Dirk Engels, Director, Department of Control of NTDs, WHONichola Cadge, Health Advisor, DFID
• Dr Ariel Pablos-Mendez, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAIDDr Wendy Harrison, Chair, UK Coalition against NTDs

Key themes/messages:

• The need for cross-sectoral collaboration with a significant emphasis placed on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) collaboration
• The power of NTDs as indicators of poverty
• The importance of focusing on social and environmental determinants of health
• The transition of developing economies to middle income countries (MICs) and national ability to tackle NTD elimination
• The importance of effective monitoring & evaluation, demonstrating impact of interventions

The UK Coalition Against NTDs produced a meeting report summarising each panelist's points.

For more details see the 67th WHA agenda.

Visit Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health