Filariasis Tech Pro, Strengthening Partnerships in Tokyo

A meeting to admire the efforts and achievements of the Japanese government, Japanese companies, and universities towards the control of Neglected Tropical Diseases （NTDs） was held on September 19, 2024, at the House of Representatives building 2 in Tokyo. At the meeting, the results of NTD control activities in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu by the American NGO "Bridges to Development", which received support from Takeda Pharmaceutical's global CSR program, were announced. The project also explained its specific activities in Papua New Guinea and plans. In addition, a panel discussion was held with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, universities, and JICA, where they discussed their efforts towards NTD control from their respective positions.

The meeting was attended by a wide range of participants, including the Ministries of Health of Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, the WHO offices in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Western Pacific Regional Office, the Southeast Asia Regional Office, the Africa Regional Office, university officials from Japan and Australia, Japanese pharmaceutical companies, and NGOs/NPOs from both within and outside Japan. Through such meetings, it was reaffirmed that NTD control is promoted through multi-layered collaboration and multilateral cooperation, and it was an important opportunity to confirm the further strengthening of mutual collaboration.

On September 18, prior to the meeting, Dr Yamauchi, the project Chief Advisor visited the Tokyo headquarters of Eisai Co., Ltd., which provides diethylcarbamazine （DEC）, one of the drugs used in MDA, free of charge. He explained the progress of the project, the actual situation on the ground, and plans, and received information from the person in charge of the Sustainability Department of Eisai Co., Ltd. about the experience of MDA in other countries and the shipping status of drugs to Papua New Guinea. We confirmed that we will continue to exchange information closely in the future.

In this project, we will continue to work with a variety of partners, including the government of Papua New Guinea, international organizations such as WHO, pharmaceutical companies, universities, NGOs/NPOs, etc., to promote the control of NTDs, including lymphatic filariasis.