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

Overview

The tenth meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) was held in Salle C of World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland 29–30 March 2017. 

Dr Dirk Engels, Director, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, opened the meeting by welcoming STAG members and introducing Dr Ren Minghui, Assistant Dir ector-General, HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. Dr Minghui added his welcome to the STAG members and other participants on behalf of WHO and spoke briefly about the upcoming World Health Assembly, during which anew Director-General of WHO will be elected. He also noted that the meeting agenda would have the STAG consider for inclusion in the NTD Department portfolio four diseases, which would have important implications related to resources of the Department, and mentioned the upcoming NTD Partners' meeting to be held in Geneva in April 2017, which will highlight among other issues the global progress of NTDs.

Dr Engels then introduced the five new members of the STAG and the chairperson of the meeting, Professor Nilanthi de Silva. Professor de Silva also welcomed the members and noted those who could not be present. She also indicated that the achievements discussed during this meeting could be used during the NTD Partners' meeting in April.