Since 2000, concerted efforts by national programmes, supported by public–private partnerships, nongovernmental organizations, donors and academia under the auspices and coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO), have produced important achievements in the control of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).
An outstanding reduction in the number of HAT cases was achieved, reaching the global threshold targeted for the elimination of HAT as a public health problem, although in some countries HAT is still a public health problem . The new road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030 established the target of interruption of transmission of gambiense HAT (g-HAT). Reaching this goal requires the strengthened and sustained efforts of all stakeholders, national authorities and partners.
WHO is convening now the fifth stakeholders meeting on the elimination of HAT. The previous meetings were on g-HAT in 2014, 2016, and 2018, as well as on rhodesiense HAT (r-HAT) in 2015, 2017 and 2019, and for both forms in 2021. These meeting are organized to reinforce the partnership and commitment for HAT elimination and to structure the mechanisms of collaboration within the WHO network for HAT elimination. The network includes National sleeping sickness control programmes (NSSCPs), groups developing new tools, international and nongovernmental organizations involved in disease control, and donors. NSSCPs have a core participation in the meetings.
The objectives of the meeting are: to sustain and strengthen the network for collaboration and coordination among stakeholders; to review progress towards the elimination of HAT and identify the challenges for reaching the goal of interruption of transmission; To assess the status of critical technical aspects in research, development and implementation of therapeutic and diagnostic tools, epidemiology, and vector control; to discuss strategies to reinforce the control and surveillance of gambiense-HAT; To keep up the commitment of national authorities and technical and financial partners to WHO’s objectives for HAT;
High level representatives of stakeholders involved in the fight against HAT in different ways. National officials in charge of HAT control in both gambiense and rhodesiense HAT endemic countries, WHO staff at national, regional and headquarters levels.