Participants of the Twelfth meeting of the Regional Programme Review Group (RPRG) on lymphatic filariasis elimination and other preventive chemotherapy programmesThe twelfth meeting of the Regional Programme Review Group (RPRG) on lymphatic filariasis elimination and other preventive chemotherapy programmes took place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from 21 to 23 October 2013.
In May 2013, the World Health Assembly passed resolution WHA66.12 reinforcing progress towards coordination among programmes directed against different neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). As a result, the scope of the current WHO Regional Office-RPRG meeting is being broadened to involve discussions on three major neglected tropical diseeases (lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis) amenable to preventive chemotherapy.
The status of the disease control programmes in Egypt, Sudan and Yemen was discussed during the meeting. Lymphatic filariasis and schistosomiasis are present in Egypt, Sudan and Yemen, whereas onchocerciasis is transmitted in Sudan and Yemen only. All countries have significantly progressed in reaching low-transmission status for most of the diseases, even though much remains to be done.
Discussions among country delegates have enabled learning from each other’s experience and success stories, and generate ideas to respond to present and future challenges.
Related link
Neglected tropical disease factsheets
Manual for case management of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 195Mb]
Framework for action on cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2014–2018 [pdf 364kb]