Coordinating partners and countries within one HAT network

As we advance towards HAT elimination, coordination among all actors is crucial. An essential role of WHO is to coordinate the efforts of the multiple partners with those of the national HAT control programmes. To better structure the collaboration, WHO established the Network for HAT elimination, linking national programmes and international organizations, research institutions, development agencies, nongovernmental organizations and donors involved in HAT control. The collaboration mechanisms include:

The main forum is the meeting of all stakeholders, convoked yearly in Geneva, alternating gambiense-HAT and rhodesiense-HAT each year. 

An annual countries’ coordination meeting convenes all HAT national focal points in order to review the situation, plan the activities and define WHO support. 

Ad-hoc coordination events take place in specific countries where multiple stakeholders operate.

The Scientific Consultative Group assembles recognized experts to deal with technical challenges in the context of HAT elimination. Currently it includes the HAT elimination Technical Advisory Group, the Guideline Development Group and the HAT diagnostics technical advisory group.

A group dedicated to Development of new tools and Integration in national policies focuses on the issues around new diagnostics and treatment tools, from development to implementation.

Four WHO Collaborating Centres provide continuous technical support to the WHO programme.