The GONE webinar will discuss Malawi’s nearing success in eliminating onchocerciasis, showcasing national efforts, partnerships, and strategic planning to achieve this goal by 2030. It includes presentations from key health officials and insights from neighboring countries alongside a Q&A session.
The upcoming GONE webinar will spotlight Malawi’s significant progress towards eradicating onchocerciasis, emphasizing its recent achievements and future goals. The Ministry of Health and community initiatives play a critical role in distributing treatments, and the country is now assessing disease interruption in endemic regions, aiming to eliminate both onchocerciasis and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by the year 2030. The session will also showcase Malawi’s integrated approach, which has effectively eliminated trachoma in 2022, along with previous successes against leprosy and lymphatic filariasis.
The agenda includes a welcome and introduction from Dr. Didier Bakajika, WHO/AFRO/ESPEN. Following this, Mr. Laston Sitima will present Malawi’s impressive advancements towards a critical public health milestone in the fight against onchocerciasis. Participants can expect a roundtable discussion involving partners who will share lessons learned from Malawi’s experience, applicable to other endemic nations, moderated by Dr. Daniel Boakye and Dr. Aïssatou Diawara, along with insights from Mrs. Bright Chiwaula, Country Director for Sightsavers in Malawi.
An additional roundtable session will involve neighboring countries Mozambique and Tanzania, highlighting priority activities to bolster cross-border cooperation. Experts involved, such as Dr. Henis Sitoe and Dr. Clara Jones, will offer their perspectives on tackling shared challenges and opportunities. The event will conclude with a question and answer session, catering to participants in English, French, and Portuguese.
In summary, the GONE webinar will illuminate Malawi’s notable journey towards eliminating onchocerciasis and its innovative strategies for addressing NTDs. Highlighting collaborative efforts among regional partners, the discussion will foster a learning environment for attendees interested in public health advancements in endemic countries, while also addressing cross-border collaboration.
Original Source: www.who.int
