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January 29th was World Leprosy Day and today is World NTD Day so this issue of Dispatches reports on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Since the earliest days of The Task Force, we have worked to beat NTDs, starting with the world’s first NTD drug donation program, the Mectizan® Donation Program which is housed at The Task Force and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2022. NTDs and the one billion people they impact are a core part of The Task Force's focus.

In the video above, members of the NTD community including The Task Force's Patrick Lammie, Mariana Stephens, PJ Hooper, and Patrick O'Carroll share why they want everyone to Act Now. Act Together. And Invest in NTDs. 

New Board Chair Kent Alexander on NTDs, Kenya visit, and what's next for The Task Force


With a passion for community service coupled with legal and nonprofit expertise, new Task Force Board Chair Kent Alexander traveled to Kenya to learn more about how he and the board can best support The Task Force's work. Read more.

PRESS RELEASE: Pfizer and International Trachoma Initiative Deliver One Billionth Zithromax Dose Toward Trachoma Elimination by 2030


The Task Force's International Trachoma Initiative and Pfizer Inc. today announced the donation of the one billionth Zithromax (azithromycin) dose to prevent and treat blinding trachoma. ITI manages the distribution to affected countries, working with partners to reach the hardest-hit communities and ensure that people get the medicine. Read more.

Celebrating five years of the African Researcher’s Small Grants Program

 

Building capacity among young African researchers and providing funding support represent promising solutions to strengthen NTD control programs. The Africa Researchers' Small Grants Program, managed by The Task Force's Neglected Tropical Diseases-Support Center (NTD-SC), was launched five years ago to fulfill this aim and has supported 66 scientists with nearly $1.5 million in research funds. Read more.
 

Video: The 2023 Campaign: Act Now. End Leprosy.

 

In honor of World Leprosy Day 2023, persons affected by leprosy (Hansen's disease) from around the world share the challenges they've experienced. Learn more.

Video: Mectizan Donation Program: 35 Years of Milestones


In 1987, Merck & Co., Inc. made the unprecedented decision to donate their treatment Mectizan — "as much as needed, for as long as needed" — for the elimination of river blindness, becoming the first company in history to make a commitment of this scale. Learn about the progress of the past 35 years, including a dramatic expansion of the goals, in this video. Watch here.

 

Video: We all have a role in eradicating intestinal worms

 

Children Without Worms (CWW) Deputy Director Mariana Stephens spoke at the inaugural TEDxAtlantaWomen event about intestinal worm infections and why we all should care about them. Watch here.


 

IN THE NEWS

 

Dr. Paul Emerson , Director of the International Trachoma Initiative, was quoted in The Guardian piece The quest to save sight on World NTD Day.
 

 

Dr. Anthony Mounts , Director of the CoVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Program, was quoted about the potential shutdown of the Covax program in the New Yorks Times article Key Partner in Covax Will End Support for Middle-Income Nations.
 

 

Director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, Dr. John Ward, was quoted in a STAT News piece Hundreds of incarcerated people are dying of hep C  even though we have a simple cure on HCV treatment in prisons.

 

Henry Njuguna, epidemiologist at the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, spoke with Devex about the urgent need for hepatitis B birth dose vaccination in Africa.

 

The Atlanta Jewish Times profiled Task Force Board Chair Ken Alexander's commitment to global health and The Task Force's growth and impact over 40 years.

PROGRAM EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
 

 

The Task Force's Voices for Vaccines program launched a free online course called "The Vaccine Quest" that lets anyone learn or teach the facts about lifesaving science. Free, fun and vetted by experts. Learn more.
 

 

Ready to be a compassionate leader? The Task Force's Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics, in partnership with the Center for Compassionate Leadership, will host the Compassionate Leadership in Global Health Certification from February 14-April 4. Apply here.
 

 

Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination Director John Ward will deliver remarks at the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Annual Conference: "HCV Elimination Progress Among Asian Counties ~ Achievements and Opportunities" and "What Does Success Look Like: A Call to Action".

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We take on big problems. We have real impact.
 
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