The 14th meeting of the Regional Programme Review Group on Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination and other Preventive Chemotherapy Programmes was organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean at its premises in Cairo, Egypt, from 12 to 14 October 2015. The meeting was attended by representatives from the ministries of health of Afghanistan, Egypt and Sudan. The meeting was also attended by neglected tropical diseases experts, representatives of partner institutions, such as END Fund, Mectizan Donation Programme and Schistosomiasis Control Initiative. Also in attendance were representatives from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and World Food Programme and WHO staff from headquarters, the Regional Office and country offices for Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan and Yemen.
The overall objective of the meeting was to review and discuss current and future challenges in controlling and eliminating lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. For all such neglected tropical disease programmes, the main strategic component is preventive chemotherapy. The scope of the 14th meeting was broadened to involve the trachoma focal point from Sudan as a reflection of the progressive integration of neglected tropical disease programmes in Sudan.
The specific objectives of the meeting were to:
- share up-to-date information on control of neglected tropical diseases;
- review progress made in countries in 2014 and 2015 with regard to neglected tropical disease programmes (mapping, treatment, monitoring, etc.);
- review country action plans for 2016 (submission of the joint application package, mapping, treatment, monitoring and evaluation, morbidity management and disability prevention, etc.);
- provide normative and operational feedback to countries; and
- agree on drug requirements for 2016.