17. Current research within APOC and TDR collaboration - Presentation 08:30-08:40 - Discussions 08:40-08:55- Conclusionsand decisions on the agenda items 17 08:55-09:05

18. Audit report 09:05-09:1519. NGDOs overheads 09:15-09:3020. Revised PAB for the transitional period 2013, 2014 and 2015 09:30-09:5021. Financing of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control 09:50-10:10(i) Report of the Fiscal Agent (the World Bank) 22. Statement by Donors 10:10-10:25- Conclusions and decisions on agenda items 18, 19, 20 and 21 10:25-10:35

Tea break 10:35-11:00

Final communique and closure

23. Date and place of the nineteenth session : 11:00-11:1024. Final Communiqué (i) Consolidation of the JAF18 conclusions, decisions

(by the Secretariat) 11:10-12:30

Final communiqué and closure (Cont’d)

Consolidation of the JAF 18 conclusions,

Communiqué (by the Secretariat) Cont’d 14:00-15:30

(ii) Final approval of the conclusions, decisions and adoption of the Final Communiqué 15:30-16:30 Tea break 16:30-17:00

25. Cloture of the eighteenth session 17:00-17:30

1 8 t h S e s s i o n o f t h e J o i n t A c t i o n F o r u m

The closed door session limited to countries,donors and NGDOs led to the adoption of the 2013-2015 budget and the 2016-2025 strategic plan

18, JAF NEWSN°3 DECEMBER 13, 2012

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Provisional agenda– Day 3 – Thursday 13 December 2012

Shadow actors: they are the keystones of the session

Certainly, there is a team in charge of organizing JAF 18, quite visible as a nose in front of the face, a team everybody

their active shadows.

The hostessesWhat’s charming ladies, these stu-dent of University of Bujumbura ?

The ReportersFor the three « report soldiers », it is scar-

The SecretariatThe secretariat pool entrusted to

experts

The medical teamIn case of discomfort, they

will attain to you

The Interpreters For instant translation. They don’t keep their ton-

gue in …the pocket

The Registering and information poolThe protocol of the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation

REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA

World HealthOrganization

Headlines Page

The closed door session limited to countries, donors and NGDOs led to the adoption of the budget............................................................................................1

Joint Action Forum in Bujumbura : statistics and argumentsto boost progress in the elimination of onchocerciasis in Africaand America.........................................................................................................................2

Defeating NTD : a realistic challenge........................................................................23

25 years of Mectizan Donation....................................................................................3

Shadow actors: they are the keystones of the session......................................4Agenda of day four............................................................................................................4

As scheduled on the day 2 agenda, a special ses-sion was dedicated to the budget issues. Pre-sented by Dr Paul-Samson Lusamba-Dikassa, Director of APOC, the concept note showed the orientation to follow in a context of changing

125 million USD strategic plan for the 2016-2025 period.

was examined in closed doors by donors, NGDOs and countries. It is 2025 horizon pre

-cious sesame was approved by JAF 18, just as the action plan and the transitional budget conceived with the aim to pass from control to elimination for the period 2013 – 2015. For 2013, the transitional plan will be adjusted for 6,6 million USD and the 2014-2015 biennium action plan is around 51 millions USD.

A view of the podium

Dr Joseph Caboré, Burundi WHO Representative,among the kingpins for the success of 18 JAF

Production teamPublisher : Paul-Samson Lusamba-DikassaSpecial Adviser : Grace FobiEditor in Chief : Thérèse BeloboDeputy Editor in Chief : André NkengfackDesk writer : Antoinette Nana IlboudoPictures and design : Jooris Ndongozi Production

2 3

Among présentations of day two, Dr Frank Richard, Director of the Oncho, FL, Shisto and malaria at Carter Center and Pre-sident of the Non Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) Group for onchocerciasis control since September 2012 presented a topic on Elimination of onchocerciasis in Latin America. He was followed by Dr Hans Remme, APOC Consultant who treated the topic on Elimination of Onchocer-ciasis in Africa.

As other topics of the forum, it was aimed at enlightening the audience on the efforts and results achieved in the fight against onchocersiasis and neglected tropical diseases.

If the information related to the fight against onchocerciasis in Latin America is unknown to us compared with the elimina-tion of the 90% of prevalence in Africa, it does not council the fact that onchocerciasis remains a public health problem, es-pecially along rivers in Latin America. The program has shown good results. With the end of the treatment in four countries, the post treatment monitoring phase is still going on in four

transmission areas. A total of 23000 people continue to benefit from ivermectine, at brazil and Venezuela borders. Only the south of Venezuela remains a pool of river blindness.

Joint Action Forum in Bujumbura: statistics and arguments to boost progress in the elimination of onchocerciasis in Africa and America.

25 years of Mectizan Donation

Defeating onchocerciasis and other NTD : a realistic achievable goal

Zooming on NGDOs : loyal and efficient partners

New momentum for negleted tropical deseases (NTD) eli-mination was the topic of a focus panel discussion during which health system strengthening and co-implementa-tion of health intervention were also discussed in day 2 of the forum. It is a new dynamism that characterized the elimination of the neglected tropical disease. This topic was treated by Dr Dirk Engels, Dr Ricardo Thomson, Dr Charles Mwandawiro and Adiele Onyeze, NTD specialist.

From their interventions, it was noted a great call for the co-implementation of health intervention. With the change of the paradigm in the fight against onchocercia-sis, from control to elimination, there is a joint calendar that links the elimination of onchocerciasis to that of

lympatic filariasis. Aware that the two illnesses response to the same invermectine and albendazole, it is advisable for the programs to work together. The benefit will be re-gistered in terms of reducing the treatment cost, saving time and efficiency.

Used for NTD, these two drugs are donated and easy to use. They are also accepted by the beneficiaries. In this regard, many problems are solve at once, be it health, better living condition and productivity. Finally, through the contribution synergy developed by pharmaceuti-cal firms, NGDOs, donors and countries and benefitting communities, every entity will gain from it.

In the fight against onchocersiasis, NGDOs are indepen-dent key partners. They play a role that can not be ful-filled neither by the public sector, nor the private, the international bodies, not even bilateral donors. This mis-sion defines at international level, attributes to these en-tities the task of mobilizing resources, supporting opera-tional issues, facilitating documentation, sharing of best practices and the operating research.

Very active in countries, they take part, alongside the en-demic country ministries, in the implementation of com-munity CDTI projects. For APOC, they are a great resour-ce in terms of finance, staff, community infrastructures and experience. Globally, they are precious development actors in the hand of governments and multilateral agen-cies.

Though, following different goals through various methods, the NGDOs were very active since 1992, before the WHO decided to gather seven of those already impli-cated in blindness prevention. Thus was born the NGDOs Group which counts today fourteen statutory members and three associated members.

In 2011, NGDOs contributed to the treatment of more than 90 million people in various programs among which 80 million for APOC and the remaining shared with ex-OCP, OEPA and Yemen. In 2011, over eight million USD were invested in the fight against onchocerciasis and NTD, namely lymphatic lymphatic filariasis, schistoso-miasis, trachoma and geohelminthe.

At JAF 18, the NGDOs reiterated their commitment to as-sist APOC in its effort to eliminate onchocerciasis.

The 18th JAF which started since the 11th of December 2012 in Bujumbura gave room to a calm, but meaningful reminder: the 25th anniversary of Mectizan donation. Amomg topics duscussed during the day, was a presentation of Dr Adrian Ko-pkins, Director of Mectizan Donation Program. He came back on on the 25 years donation activites of this product also cal-led ivermectine, calling for a better distribution.

For a recall, it is in October 1987 that Mectizan was made free for the world population by the pharmaceutical firm Merck. But the treatment coverage rate is a concern to the Director of the Program. Dr Hopkins comes back on the reason of this situation.

The treatment coverage rate of lymphatic filariasis looks very low. Is it subject to concern for the health of patients?

It is right concerning lymphatic filariasis which has as drug Mectizan and, Albendazole. The program was announced in 1998, but started in 2000. Twelve years later, the treatment coverage is only 25%. The problem is that the drugs are availa-ble, but not distributed. We are having discussions with do-nors. We are also inviting WHO to consider this problem. It is a body which could easily negotiate with donors. Moreover, public health ministries should address the drug distribution as well. It is quite frustrating that free drugs are available and cannot reach the patients.

You are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the donation of Mectizan. Are you satisfied with the Program ?

Mectizan threats two illnesses: onchocerciasis and lympha-tic filariasis. With the onchocerciasis program conducted by APOC and OCP, we are recording a good coverage rate which is progressing yearly towards our objectives. However, perfor-mances are below expectations in some conflict and post-con-flict countries.

Finally, as it is for major events since the beginning of the year, we celebrate the anniversary at JAF Bujumbura by sharing a cocktail with traditional danses to embellish the evening.

The participants keenly following a presentation