The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing for its second global meeting on skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs), set to take place from March 24 to March 26, 2025. This hybrid event will be held in person at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and online via Zoom.
The upcoming meeting follows the success of the first global meeting held in March 2023, which laid the groundwork for continued collaboration and progress in tackling skin NTDs. The 2025 event will build on the momentum of the initial gathering, showcasing the commitment of the global community to achieving a key objective outlined in the NTD Road Map: integration.
The NTD Road Map highlights three essential strategies for combating NTDs: accelerating programmatic action, intensifying cross-cutting approaches, and evolving operational models to encourage greater country ownership. Integration, a core aspect of these strategies, is a central theme of the upcoming meeting. By integrating efforts across sectors, the event aims to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for people affected by skin NTDs.
The 2025 meeting will address 13 key areas related to skin NTDs, with an inclusive approach that includes dermatological conditions discussed in the previous gathering. These areas include:
- Integration at the country level
- Drug development and access
- Wound care and rehabilitation
- Capacity strengthening, including digital tools and artificial intelligence
- Diagnostics and laboratory support
- Epidemiology and surveillance
- Operational research
- Basic research
- Transmission
- Psychosocial aspects
- Advocacy and communication
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
- One Health
Additionally, topics such as the WHO Academy and NTD online courses will be covered, reflecting the latest developments and ongoing challenges in the field.
The objectives of the meeting are as follows:
- To share progress and challenges in implementing integrated activities on skin NTDs at the country level.
- To present updates from the Working Groups and areas of skin NTDs, as well as the WHO Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Skin Conditions.
- To plan future activities to advance the implementation of the skin NTD framework.
- To strengthen networking among participants, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The event will bring together a wide range of experts, stakeholders, and organizations involved in skin NTDs and related fields. Participants will include:
- Experts in skin NTDs and other NTDs
- Representatives from health ministries and NTD program officers
- Representatives from nongovernmental organizations, partners, and donors
- Academic and research institutions
- WHO representatives from headquarters, regional offices, and country offices
- People affected by skin NTDs
- Civil society groups
This global meeting will provide a platform for all stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and drive forward the fight against skin-related neglected tropical diseases.
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