Category Archives: london declaration

Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Conversation on Progress

collaboration, Global Health, london declaration, NGOs, NTDs, trends, U.S Government, UK government,

 

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Two years ago, global health leaders convened in London to hold the most significant international meeting on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in history. The event galvanized major commitments from a diverse set of partners to eliminate or control 10 NTDs by 2020 – these commitments are now known as the London Declaration.

This Wednesday on April 2nd, The Global Network will once again join this unique group of partners to discuss progress toward the promises made in 2012.

Since the London Declaration on NTDs, The US, UK, and the World Bank have deepened their commitments, and NTDs are now being prioritized in global health and development agendas. In addition, control, prevention and research efforts for NTDs have expanded.

The London declaration also sparked new collaboration between public and private partners. These partnerships are identifying innovative, concrete solutions for delivering good health and strong economic futures to the world’s poorest people.

The progress we’ve seen since 2012 is also due in large part to the work of endemic countries in drafting and implementing national NTD plans. Through their national plans, countries burdened by NTDs are funding and driving their own solutions.

We invite you to tune into a live webcast of the April 2nd event in Paris. You’ll hear from Bill Gates, Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization, along with other distinguished panelists.

Feel free to tweet about the event using the hashtag #NTD progress. The live webcast will run from 12:00 to 1:30 EST. To tune in, click here.

Neglected Tropical Diseases Take Center Stage in London

london declaration


By Mawish Raza

In light of the one year anniversary of The London Declaration, a series of events took place in London this week that that continued to highlight the important role neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and elimination plays on the global health and development agenda.

Dr. Neeraj Mistry, managing director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, addressed The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (APPMG) on Tuesday. Dr. Mistry discussed the progress since the initial launch of the London Declaration and emphasized the role of integrated treatment approaches in order to help meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) target to control and eliminate the most common NTDs by 2020.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine also announced a new partnership with the Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum to launch the London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research this week. The center will provide researchers with tools to raise further awareness and solutions to investigating NTD control, mapping and diagnosis. Continue reading →

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Forms of Social Justice

london declaration, social welfare, socio-economics


By Mawish Raza, Communications Intern for the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

I have always been keen to recognizing different social justice movements. However, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are new to me. As someone who has recently joined the Global Network to advocate action against NTDs, what has struck me most is the lack of awareness and priority placed on preventing and ending the spread of these diseases.

Governments in developing nations invest a great deal of time and effort to encourage and stabilize their economies in order to increase profits. Yet halting the dispersion of NTDs is also a key component in optimizing production in industries such as agriculture and fishing. Individuals that are impacted by NTDs often live in poverty and don’t have the capacity to fight the diseases they are faced with. NTDs influence the lifestyle and attitude of not only individuals that are affected, but of their larger community – from their own family to their neighbors. Each day that a person isn’t able to go to work or make it to school is one less day that could have provided a step to profitable and personal enrichment. The impact of NTDs isn’t an issue that works in isolation; it impacts the larger community. These diseases create deeper roots for poverty to sustain in these poorly assisted communities – a poverty that not only impacts the social structure of a community, but one that digs deep into the health and mind.

The fact of the matter is that in order to bring an end to the spread of NTDs, the global community needs to address its existence.  Recognizing these diseases draws light to the fundamental influences that handicap individuals, which further impact the nation’s economy, literacy rate and development. Continue reading →

The London Declaration: One Year Later

london declaration, NTDs, WHO

 

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the London Declaration—an unprecedented  pledge by a group of public and private partners to control or eliminate 10 NTDs by 2020. This includes an uptick in drug donations, research and development and bilateral support for NTD programs around the world.

Several reports and updates have been released today to showcase the progress since 2012 as well as the goals and challenges for 2013 and beyond.

From Promises to Progress: The First Annual Report on the London Declaration on NTDs,”  issued by Uniting to Combat NTDs, documents key accomplishment in  2012 and targets moving into 2013. This group also issued a London Declaration Scorecard, which was developed to hold partners accountable for their commitments, improve transparency and make visible areas where additional collaboration is possible or where gaps remain.

Caroline Harper, Chair of the UK Coalition against NTDs, and Chief Executive of Sightsavers, says: “Many of the steps forward in the fight against NTDs over the past 12 months are the result of public and private partners working together.  One of the biggest achievements is the development of the London Declaration Scorecard as a new tool to unite all NTD partners.  It will drive collaborative working, outlining the responsibilities of the wide variety of partners involved.” Continue reading →