First WHO Meeting of Stakeholders on Elimination of Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis

Overview

The meeting reviewed the current epidemiological status of the disease and the recent achievements and challenges for moving towards the gambiense HAT elimination goal. The stakeholders also analysed the current status of important technical aspects of HAT control that are currently in development and will greatly assist in bringing about the elimination of HAT. These include the development of new drugs currently in clinical trials and new diagnostics tools that are becoming available, research on some unresolved epidemiological aspects such as the potential role of asymptomatic carriers and animal reservoirs and recently improved methods of vector control. The meeting also examined the establishment of mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the elimination process as well as the confirmation of outcomes. Finally, the ways and mechanisms through which collaboration and coordination among stakeholders can be strengthened and organized were considered. As the number of cases of HAT continue to decrease it will be critical that the international stakeholders maintain their support, that HAT surveillance, treatment, and control activities are integrated within health services, and that the national ownership of the control programmes is achieved in order to bring about the sustainable elimination of the disease and to avoid the repetition of the painful experience of the last century