How do we work?

Collaboration is a key element in progress towards implementing the WHO framework for integrated control and case management of skin NTDs. Elimination and control of skin disease requires coordination of activities to synergize efforts, avoid overlap and harmonize activities.

The WHO network for augmented intelligence on skin NTDs and common skin diseases for capacity building on management and monitoring in resource-limited settings plans to establish a general forum: the stakeholders’ meeting.

Two groups will provide effective support for driving activities during the interval between meetings, with more groups to be added according to identified needs:

  1. Scientific and Technical Consultative Group
  2. Implementation Coordination Group
Initiative structure

Stakeholder's meeting

This meeting convenes representation from all the stakeholders involved in developing AI-based tools for skin NTDs and common skin diseases targeting resource-limited settings, alongside those involved in the control of skin diseases, including:

  1. Endemic country national control programmes;
  2. Scientific institutions and non-profit platforms developing new tools on AI;
  3. International and nongovernmental organizations involved in skin health;
  4. Public and private donors;
  5. Augmented intelligence providers with experience in skin health platforms;
  6. Dermatology AI experts as well as dermatologists with expertise in resource-limited settings.

It is an open forum where progress in building AI for skin diseases is reported and important advances, difficulties and gaps are discussed. The different groups included in the WHO network report to this meeting. Meetings provide a tool for advocacy and control of skin NTDs and common skin diseases.

Donors are also involved in the meeting to share information on progress and discuss financial gaps in the road to control. WHO convokes meetings every 18–24 months at its headquarters in Geneva or virtually and ensures the Secretariat.


Scientific and Technical Consultative Group

Membership of this group will include individuals with extensive experience of different aspects of AI and dermatology. It will have the following roles:

  1. advising on strategies, tool development and evaluation of outputs of activities;
  2. answering specific scientific and strategic questions and issues;
  3. identifying possible barriers to implementation;
  4. and proposing technical and strategic solutions. 

Members are selected from WHO’s database of experts and, according to the agenda, they may also include other specialists in specific areas. 

The Group meets on request at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva or virtually and WHO provides the Secretariat. It reports to the stakeholders meeting.

Implementation Coordination Group

Given the complexity and specificity of the topics to be treated, this working group is split into several specific thematic subgroups. The first stakeholders’ meeting identified the following themes requiring subgroups: 

  1. Global photograph database coordination for AI on skin NTDs and common skin diseases;
  2. Dissemination of capacity building tools AI-based for skin NTDs and common skin diseases at national and global level.

The subgroups include representatives from selected disease-endemic countries, research institutions and institutions developing new tools or implementing activities in the field. Serving as a member of a thematic subgroup does not preclude membership of another subgroup. Each thematic subgroup identifies areas of work and reports the outcomes to the WHO stakeholders meeting. 

These subgroups are closely interconnected and coordinated. Meetings are held according to needs, either face-to-face or virtually via the Internet. One annual face-to-face meeting is recommended of each subgroup, with the date and venue decided according to needs and participants. Donors and/or private/commercial providers are also invited to participate in any subgroup as observers. WHO undertakes to provide the Secretariat of each subgroup.

Led by local needs, there may be regional/national variation necessitating more localized attention and sub meetings. Occasionally, other implementers (nongovernmental organizations, international agencies, AI providers), WHO collaborating centres or other experts may be invited. The meeting updates the skin NTD country situation and the results of control and surveillance in the framework of the integrated control and management of skin NTDs. It reviews and advises on policies, strategies and implementation. These meetings with all the skin NTDs focal points are organized every year by WHO regional offices either in a country or virtually.

 

Subgroup 1: Global photograph database coordination for AI on skin NTDs and common skin diseases

This group addresses the creation, population and maintenance of a global photograph database for AI.

The global photograph database will have the following objectives:

  1. To grow the database of clinical photographs with firm diagnoses to feed the AI algorithms;
  2. To develop key data points to be captured with each image submitted;
  3. To map the areas from which each suspected/probable/confirmed case is reported to improve surveillance of non-mandatory skin NTDs and common skin diseases.

It can also identify funding gaps in delivering these activities as well as leading on advocacy to donors. 

The activities identified and covered by this group are to: 

  • Identify and categorize the image gaps that need to be filled; 
  • Identify relevant institutions working in those recognized gaps; 
  • Advocate with donors to support activities needed to fill the identified gaps. 

 

Subgroup 2: Dissemination of capacity building tools AI-based for skin NTDs and common skin diseases at national and global level

This group works to facilitate the dissemination of AI-based capacity building and monitoring tools at national and global levels as they become available. It discusses the monitoring and evaluation of new tools being introduced; and works to ensure full access by the target audience.

Members includes representatives from involved endemic countries, institutions working on the development of new tools, institutions working on capacity building and reporting, and WHO. 

The activities identified and covered by the group are to: 

  • Enable the integration of new tools into existing platforms to ensure their wide use;
  • Collaborate with countries to develop manuals and strategies, and harmonize and standardize procedures; 
  • Coordinate the close follow-up of new tools in use.