Sixth report of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTDs)

Overview

The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) held its sixth meeting at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 29–30 April 2013.

Dr Hiroki Nakatani, WHO’sAssistant Director-General for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (WHO/HTM-NTD), opened the meetingon behalf of the Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, and welcomed the new Chairman of STAG, ProfessorPeter Holmes, the five new members and all otherparticipants. Dr Nakatani emphasized that NTD is firmly positioned in WHO’s corporate strategy and future activities for the next six years; that NTD is a showcase for global health bysettingan example ofhow to build public–private partnerships; and that NTD is a pathfinder for achieving the health-relatedMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) and setting the post-MDG agenda.

The Chairman, Professor Peter Holmes, welcomed the new members of STAG andemphasizedthe need to work together towards achieving the common goalsof NTD control